When it comes to the history of Puerto Rico, I have to admit I came in knowing very little. Puerto Rico was allegedly discovered by Cristobal Colon, and beyond that, I honestly did not know much about my ancestral homeland. You would not expect schools here to teach a great deal about Puerto Rico, and according to this book, Puerto Ricans were not even allowed to display their flags in Puerto Rico for a period of time, so it is not surprising that I grew up without much of 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 you have to seek it out because public schools are unlikely to cover it in depth. That was my experience with a book by former NY assemblyman Nelson Denis. I came away having learned about many topics I had never encountered before.
Pedro Albizu Campos was one of those names. I had never heard of him until I read this book. Vidal Santiago, the Ponce Massacre, these were all completely new to me. The only Puerto Rican figure I was really familiar with was Luis Muñoz Marín, mostly because the airport carries his name.
Honestly, I cannot be too hard on myself for not knowing more. My family brought me to NYC when I was five years old. Even though my mom and dad are deeply Puerto Rican in their roots, they never shared these historical stories with me. I actually found myself passing along this information to my mom, who had always viewed Muñoz Marín favorably. After reading this book, it became clear that he played a more complicated role and had ties to U.S. interests in Puerto Rico that were not always straightforward.
I do not want to give too much away, but I will say I walked away having learned a great deal. The book is fairly accessible and is backed by notes and research.
Some people have called the book sensationalist. One person even compared it to the Fox News of Puerto Rican history books, and that was not meant kindly. When asked how I could still recommend it, my answer was simple: whether or not parts of it are dramatized, I still walked away knowing things I did not know before. I came in as a blank page on this history, so I am still in the process of learning. I plan to read more books about Puerto Rico to continue building that foundation.
One thing the book does make clear is that Puerto Rico has experienced significant hardships in its relationship with the United States. Reading about measures like the gag law and other restrictions placed on Puerto Ricans is genuinely difficult. I understand that history is complex, and looking back at the circumstances that led people to take certain actions, it is easier to understand the emotions and frustrations that were at play.
Whether or not you are familiar with Puerto Rican history, I would encourage you to give this book a read. I have had the chance to meet Nelson Denis personally, and we both contribute to Latino Rebels. I enjoyed the book and found it worthwhile. If you have read it or decide to pick it up, feel free to share your thoughts. And if you have other book recommendations to help me continue learning, please send them my way!
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