By Demetrius Dillard
Controversial remarks about Puerto Rico that came from a comedian at a recent Donald Trump rally in Madison Square Garden have made national headlines and continue to dominate mainstream media discourse as Election Day quickly approaches.
Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian who has drawn unprecedented attention over the past few days for all the wrong reasons, jokingly referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Though it was said as part of a broader comical monologue, the statement has been condemned by many – seemingly including Trump.
Regrettably, a fair amount of Americans concur with Hinchcliffe’s words about Puerto Rico – particularly conservative radicals, right-wing extremists and ultra nationalists. Even for the large group of everyday casual Americans who do not think or speak contemptibly of Puerto Rico, it is still a mere afterthought just like many other foreign countries and cultures.
Oftentimes, perceptions of Puerto Rican culture as it relates to assimilation to “valued American customs” are relegated to cuisine and music.
To be fair, the Northeast may be the exception, considering Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York are home to the largest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. Thus, Puerto Rican contributions are more deeply cherished, embraced and celebrated in those states particularly than in a region where the Puerto Rican presence is sparse.
“We are important because we are a part of the history and fabric of America,” Kay Munoz, a member of the Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus, said in an interview with WSFB-3.
Beyond the Puerto Rican-oriented cuisine and music, what about how they fuel the U.S. economy? And their contributions to the U.S. military front?
From politics, to literature, to sports, to the arts, to science and medicine, to entertainment and much more — Puerto Ricans have brought substantial value not only to America, but to civilizations across the globe.
The Puerto Rican Status Act, a bill authorizing a federally sponsored plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico’s political status, passed the House in December 2022.
Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, shared remarks during a discussion of the Puerto Rico Status Act and reflected on what the territory means to the U.S.
“Puerto Ricans and people of Puerto Rican descent have had an important place in the American family for over a century. They contribute to American culture. They help protect America’s national security. They support the American economy and our shared prosperity. They are American citizens like you and me,” Hoyer said according to an article published in The Puerto Rico Report.
“For far too long, however, the people of Puerto Rico have been excluded from the full promise of American democracy and self-determination that our nation has always championed. Many of us have different opinions on which status is best for Puerto Rico. Personally, I’ve advocated for Puerto Rico’s statehood ever since I first visited the island in 1976.”
The Puerto Rico Report is a media outlet dedicated to the mission of informing the general public of Puerto Rico’s status as a territory of the United States and the related implications of that status, according to its website.
Also an educational source, the publication “seeks to provide both historic analysis and news of current events, citing original sources and making those sources readily accessible in one concentrated forum.”
The same report that quoted Hoyer went on to point out some of the contributions that Puerto Rico has made for more than a century that have deplorably gone unnoticed.
“Puerto Rico brings rich cultural contributions to the complex landscape of American culture,” the article says.
“Music and dance from Puerto Rico are popular across the nation. Salsa and merengue, reggaetón and Latin pop are well known in the states. Bombas, boleros, trova, guaracha, cumbia, and plena may be less familiar to some Americans.”
Puerto Rican music is often “frequented” subconsciously without American listeners realizing it, the author wrote, mentioning some influential artists including Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daddy Yankee, Rita Moreno, José Feliciano, and Ozuna.
The report also argued how Puerto Rico helps protect America’s national security, supports the U.S. economy, and how Puerto Ricans are inherently citizens of the U.S.
PR51st, a platform established by the Puerto Rico Statehood Council, is one of the leading advocates for advancing the goal of achieving equality for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico through statehood. The group released the following list of individuals who have made a substantial impact in various sectors of American society:
Joseph Michael “Joe” Acaba, is the first astronaut from Puerto Rico
Deborah Aguiar-Veléz is an engineer, an award-winning businesswoman, and the author of Spanish-language computer science textbooks as part of her support of the Hispanic community.
Marc Anthony is an actor and singer, a television producer, and currently the top-selling tropical salsa artist of all time.
Olga Albizu was an abstract expressionist painter and a leading figure in the New York arts scene.
Maria Teresa Babín was a writer and educator who edited one of the most important anthologies of Puerto Rican literature.
Herman Badillo was the first congressman of Puerto Rican heritage.
Frank Bonilla was a leading figure in academic studies of Puerto Rico, and served as the director of the City University of New York’s Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños.
Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Fame baseball star and a humanitarian.
Jesús Colón was the first Puerto Rican writer to achieve literary success on the mainland.
Victor Hernández Cruz was named one of the best American poets by Life Magazine in 1981.
Jennifer Lopez is a star as a dancer, singer, and actress.
Ricky Martin is a singer, actor, and author known for bringing salsa music into the U.S. mainstream.
Rita Moreno is one of few performers to have won all four of the major entertainment awards: the Oscar, the Tony, the the Emmy, and the Grammy.
Antonia Novello served as Surgeon General of the United States, the first Hispanic woman to do so.
Anthony Romero is the president of the American Civil Liberties Union.
José Enrique Serrano is a U.S. Congressman representing the South Bronx.
Yajaira Sierra Sastre is a nanotechnologist working with NASA, and plans to become an astronaut.
Sonia Sotomayor is a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
