7.27.2007

AmeRICAN: The Whitewashing of Boriken


This a picture of the “Puerto Rican” Barbie. It follows a stereotypical image of how many gringos view us. However, the characteristics are a stark contrast from the reality of what the majority on the island look like. This means that the product is marketing towards a particular sector of society, the rich, “white”, elites. However, the majority of poor darker girl are going to want one of course. And thus we see how images are implanted into the mindset’s of children. As children attach themselves to images, knowing themselves they will continue to grow, tend to settle on certain images to strive to be like. These images give them inspiration. And while people will kick the same ol’ “we come in all colors” nonsense, it’s only a automated response, a cut and paste retort taught to them by “the system” of white supremacy that took root once it broke out of the harsh winter’s of Europe. However, the Barbie doll isn’t to blame. It is only another pawn to forward the agenda of the elite. It is another strategy in the on going “whitewashing of Boriken.”


Below are excerpts from two works regarding the blanquemiento or "whitening" of Puerto Rican society. They touch on the various historical and cultural events that played as major factors in the forming of the "white" mentality instilled in many "light skinned" Borikuas. The result, after years of being fed such a poor mental diet, of course results in the internalizing of this image and the stride towards "whiteness" in order to excel and move forward and up in society. It did not happen accidentally. And the masses of Borikuas haven’t always harbored such a perspective of themselves. However, it came about for reason. It was a strategy that ended up a stigma in the self-identification, self-realization and self-determination of the people of Boriken.

"For those familiar with Puerto Rican history and society, this question may seem disingenuous. After all, ever since the island came under U.S. control Puerto Rican elites have worked long and hard to create and maintain Puerto Rico’s image as the "white island of the Antilles." At the turn of the twentieth century, the effort to portray the Puerto Rican population as "white" was partly a response to scientific racism. Confronted with scientific theories that linked prospects for development to a society’s "racial stock," Puerto Rican elites-like their counterparts elsewhere in Latin America- sought to position their society on the road to racial progress. Perhaps even more ominous that the predictions of race science, for Puerto Rican elites, was the specter of what might become of their society were their colonizers to see Puerto Rico as predominantly non-white. The shadow of the Jim Crow south hung over the island of Puerto Rico in the early twentieth century, a constant reminder of what it meant to be non-white under the rule of the United States."

- excerpt from and essay entitled "How Puerto Rico Became White: An Analysis of Racial Statistics in the 1910 and 1920 Censuses" by Mara Loveman and Jeronimo Muniz
You may view the entire paper at: http://www.ssc.edu/cde/demsem/loveman-muniz.pdf

Another article was written by a student named Maria Bruno from Trinity College as an analysis of an essay written by another other, and provides many insightful historical facts and relevancies. Please, do the knowledge and take the best part for yourself.

"In his essay Puerto Rico: The Four Storeyed Country, José Luis González develops a wonderful simile between the construction of a four storeyed building and the reconstruction of Puerto Rican history. González’ simile suggests that the history of Puerto Rico consist of layers or floor from which you must build. This is an excellent interpretation of how Puerto Rican identity has been formed because of it is divided into sections which makes it easy to follow the development of Puerto Rican culture. Through out time Puerto Rican elite’s have reconstructed their history by taking from and rearranging its foundation or early history in order to explain their interpretation of the islands historical and cultural development. In the process the foundation of the building or earlier periods have become obscured by the passing of time and the influence of the elite. The following pages will be my own construction of "The four storeyed country" concentrating on Spanish colonialism and it’s effects on the island."

- to read the entire paper:

Proper Education Always Corrects Errors

2 comments:

José M. López Sierra said...

Why does Puerto Rico have a higher voter turnout than USA?
Puerto Ricans have a voter turnout of about 80%. The United States (US) citizens have a voter turnout of about 50%. What accounts for this 30 % disparity? Could it be that Puerto Rican believe in democracy more than US mainland citizens?
Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States since 1898. Since that time, Puerto Ricans who have wanted to decolonize their country have been either assassinated or imprisoned. Many Puerto Ricans are terrified of independence for Puerto Rico as a result of 116 years of repression.
Since colonialism is always for exploitation, there are no opportunities in Puerto Rico for Puerto Ricans. That is why there are now more Puerto Ricans out, than in Puerto Rico. Therefore, Puerto Ricans are desperate to find a political solution to our eternal colonialism!
Most Puerto Ricans believe that decolonization can be achieved through the electoral process. But the electoral process is ultimately under the control of the government of the United States. Since the US government has ignored 33 United Nations resolutions asking it to immediately decolonize Puerto Rico, and it has maintained incarcerated Puerto Rico political prisoner Oscar López Rivera for 33 years despite worldwide support to free him, there should be no doubt that the US government will never allow decolonization via the electoral process. If it were possible to do it that way, we would not have it!
The better way to decolonize is for that 80% of the Puerto Rico voter turnout to instead protest in the streets to demand our inalienable right to self-determination and independence, and insist that the UN do the decolonization in conformity to international law. After all, colonialism is within the jurisdiction of international law and never under national law. That is why it is a crime against humanity to have a colony under international law, but not so under US law.
José M López Sierra
www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com

José M. López Sierra said...

The Second Oscar – Mandela March in New York City 2015

We will be having our 2nd Oscar – Mandela Protest March on Monday, June 22, 2015. We will start marching peacefully at 9 AM from Hunter College on East 68th Street and Lexington Avenue, to East 43rd Street and Lexington Avenue. We will then go East (turning left) to end up at the Ralph Bunche Park on First Avenue (across from the United Nations).

We will be at the park until 5 PM. We will be giving out flyers and talking to people about who Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera is. We will also be educating the public about Puerto Rico’s colonial relationship with the government of the United States (US).

Most people don’t know that every year, usually on the Monday after Fathers’ Day, the United Nations holds its hearing about the decolonization of Puerto Rico. The petitioners will usually join our protest after this meeting.

The UN determined in 1960 that colonialism is a crime against humanity. Since then, the UN has issued 33 resolutions asking for the US government to immediately decolonize Puerto Rico. The US government has ignored these resolutions. What kind of democracy is that?

The US government tries to keep these hearings a secret. What we are trying to do is to get them out of the closet. The UN is in its 3rd decade trying to make the world colony-free. Please help us!

Most people also don’t know that the United States government takes out 14 times more money than what it invests in Puerto Rico. But, that is what colonies are for!

This savage exploitation impedes Puerto Rico’s ability to provide opportunities for Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico. That is why there are now more Puerto Ricans living away from Puerto Rico than in their homeland.

Oscar López Rivera has been incarcerated for 34 years for his struggle to decolonize Puerto Rico. Since colonialism is an international crime, international law gives Oscar the right to use whatever means necessary to decolonize his homeland. Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years for doing the same thing as Oscar. This is why we say, Oscar López Rivera is our Nelson Mandela!

United Partners for Puerto Rico Decolonization invites the public to be part of the tsunami of people that will be necessary to make the US government comply with the UN resolutions. These annual protests in Puerto Rico and at the UN are absolutely necessary, because, those who maintain colonies, don’t believe in justice for all!

José M López Sierra
787-429-1981
www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com