When it comes to the history of Puerto Rico, I have to admit I started as a blank canvas. Puerto Rico was allegedly discovered by Cristobal Colon, and beyond that, I didn’t know much about my ancestral homeland. It’s no surprise that Puerto Rican history isn’t covered in depth in schools here. According to this book, there was even a time when Puerto Rican flags were not allowed in Puerto Rico, so it’s understandable that many of us grew up without this knowledge.
Those of us who know anything about Puerto Rico’s real history have mostly been self-taught. The information is out there, but we have to look for it. That was my experience with a book by former NY assemblyman Nelson Denis. I hadn’t heard about many of the topics I read until then.
Pedro Albizu Campos, for example, was a name completely new to me — same with Vidal Santiago and the Ponce Massacre. The only name I recognized was Luis Muñoz Marín, mainly because I believe the airport is named after him.
My family brought me to NYC when I was 5 years old. Though my parents are as Puerto Rican as they come, they never shared these historical stories with me. In fact, I have found myself sharing them with my mom. She thought Muñoz Marín was a good guy, but based on what I read in this book, his legacy appears more layered than that. He seems to have been closely aligned with the United States, which has had a complex relationship with Puerto Rico over the years.
I don’t want to give too many details away, but suffice it to say, I learned a lot I didn’t know before. The book is pretty accessible and well-supported by notes and research.
Some people call the book sensationalist. One person even compared it unfavorably to a cable news network known for strong opinions. When asked how I could still praise it, I said that regardless of how it’s characterized, I still learned about things I had no prior knowledge of. Like I said, I started with a blank page regarding our history, so this is part of my learning process. I plan to read more books about Puerto Rico and continue expanding my knowledge.
One clear takeaway from this book is that Puerto Rico has faced periods of unfair treatment throughout its history. It’s difficult to read about things like the gag law and other policies that affected Puerto Ricans. Reading about the historical context behind various responses from Puerto Ricans over the years gave me a broader understanding of what drove those moments.
Whether you know much about Puerto Rican history or not, I recommend reading this book to learn more. I have met Nelson Denis personally, and we both write for Latino Rebels. I enjoyed the book thoroughly. If you have read it or plan to read it, please share your thoughts! Also, if you know of any other books that could help me on this journey, I would appreciate your recommendations!
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