Posted by Editor in By Judy Mercado–
After reading my first Lamento Borincano post, a fellow blogger asked me to discuss what the general population should know about Puerto Rican culture.
I was about to whip up a response when I stopped to ask myself which Puerto Rican culture I would write about. At the moment, just as many Puerto Ricans live away from Puerto Rico as do on that beautiful Caribbean island.
Anyone born on the island is automatically a U.S. citizen. Many of us who self identify as Puerto Rican have actually never lived in Puerto Rico.
Some, like me, lived there for a time, but have spent the rest of our lives elsewhere. Some of us speak Spanish only. Others English only. Some speak both fluently. Others manage a hybrid Spanglish.
Some can comprehend both languages but speak only one. Some, like me while growing up, interacted in an English-speaking world away from home and a Spanish-speaking one at home.
To this already rich mix, I can add many permutations. All I have to do is overlay variables like historical time period, urban versus rural, religion, politics, age, socioeconomic class, intermarriage, skin color, and gender.
Given that, my first exploration of Puerto Rican culture is necessarily a definitional one.
Who is Puerto Rican?
The first thing I can say is, “We are surely a hybrid bunch.” Yet, that is not a satisfying answer.
Given our diversity, what leads some of us to self identify as Puerto Rican, particularly if we have never lived there? Are we Puerto Rican because our parents or grandparents were born there and/or we eat Puerto Rican food, celebrate Puerto Rican holidays, enjoy the music and dances, identify with the island’s history and the issue of its political status?
Conversely, what is it that leads others to identify us as Puerto Rican? Why, for example, was my green-eyed, fair-skinned father denied housing once the landlord realized papi was Puerto Rican?
I end with a promise that I will explore this complex issue in future posts. In the meantime, I really, really, really welcome comments any of you, Puerto Rican and not, have on the question: Who Is Puerto Rican?
I thought I knew what it meant to be Puerto Rican until I had to explain it to someone else so I need all the help I can get.
Judith Mercado is an acclaimed Puerto Rican novelist and short story writer. She also has her own blog “Pilgrim Soul.”
Judith, I love the questions. As a Cuban-American (an American of Cuban parents) I ask myself those questions about identity frequently — even started the Tiki Tiki to carry on those conversations.
I love what I learned about being Hispanic and the Census recently: Who is Hispanic? Whomever decides to be.
I know I gave you no answer, but maybe that’s the answer?
Hi Judy,
You have touched on a complex question. Is being Puerto Rican just a birthright or is it deeper than that? I happen to be 2nd generation and identify myself as Puerto Rican (the pride is contagious, no?). So both my parents were born on the island and migrated here with their parents in the late 60’s.
I’m not sure what “the” answer is but what I know in my heart is that each person’s homeland does have a soul and when I first visited Puerto Rico when I was 10 years old, I felt the island welcome me. I don’t know if it’s all the stories I heard from my family that were then realized when I arrived but I know there is a heart and soul connection to it. It’s bigger than the music, the food or the beauty of the island itself. If you connect with the soul of the island you are Puerto Rican too. As you know, we have created “on the mainland” a hybrid of Puerto Rican culture and soul that for me strengthens the connection to the island. For some of us, it’s as if our family never left because the community they built in the U.S. is so strong. The family stories, and observations of how my family thinks, and feels directly tie with my trips back and forth to the island connecting me to it. Being on both sides, I see a seamless transition between both worlds. I also believe you can adopt a place as your homeland if you can truly connect with the soul of it.