INTRODUCTION: In the late 1960’s the UPR was the center of protest against US militarization in school campuses, with tensions stemming from the U.S. taking possession of Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War in 1898. Even though a large portion of the population welcomed US presence, there were others who resented said presence as well as the militarization of the island. Furthermore, this animosity was largely aimed at Puerto Rican eligibility for the Selected Service after the passage of the Jones Act in 1917, which made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens. Opposition to the militarization of the island has found its cradle in the university of Puerto Rico founded in the 1900’s where many groups in favor of independence spread their message …show more content…
CONFLICT: In the 1960’s and early 70’s, conflict erupted between the ROTC and the pro-independence groups over the military presence on campus. The main source of the conflict was the fight against US colonialism, militarism, and the Vietnam War. The Federacion Universitaria Pro Independencia or FUPI’s main goal was to remove the military presence from the university, as well as to gain a voice in university matters. On the opposite side, stood the ROTC, whose official purpose was to train cadets into well educated, quality officers. Student opposition to military presence on campus increased and turned violent during the 60’s, mirroring the nationwide protests against the Vietnam War and the draft. Many pro-independence groups in Puerto Rico identified with the Vietnamese struggle because of their similar plight for the right to be free from American influence. The conflict was triggered in September 1969 with the arrest of Edwin Feliciano Grafals, who was taken into custody for refusing to join the military after being drafted. As a result, protests escalated, leading to the partial burning of the ROTC …show more content…
citizens and colonial subjects. The protests can be seen as a breaking point, the climax of a decades long struggle against exploitation or, alternatively, it can be seen as the violent rebirth of a decades long struggle that would lead to countless further movements stretching into the present. The UPR protests of the 1970’s, while tragic, brought to light many issues that had been occurring for many years on the island, and brought positive changes to both the University, and the island as well as setting guidelines for future ROTC or militarization action on campus. The resulting legacy of this compromise taught the ROTC to be at a respectable arm's length with the university and also taught the students of today how justice is within their
There are no more leaders and hardly a place left to go where we can just be native.” Although colonial powers have the monetary resources for total control, Native people have a spiritual relationship with their ancestors that can, and must, guide independence. Through traditional knowledge of appropriate land use, life will thrive. Organizations such as La Plazita Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico have created a space for change to flourish. La Plazita Institute is a unique organization that focuses on teaching ethics and values to young people who have been involved in street gangs or violence.
As a Puerto Rican citizen, I do not fit in to that part of our history very much. In the late 1800’s, Puerto Rico was not a U.S. territory; instead, it formed part of the Spanish empire. It wasn’t until the end of the Spanish-American war that Puerto Rico became a U.S. property. Even then (after being conquered by the U.S. in the year 1900), the common American belief was that Puerto Ricans weren’t inherently equal any more than they thought that blacks were racially equal to whites. Rather, because the American public wouldn’t consent to treating Puerto Ricans as equals or granting them citizenship, the U.S. had trouble keeping the island as an imperial possession.
Censorship in History: Non-Beneficial Environment for Students Historical truths are at stake. States and schools are murdering U.S. history by either changing it in textbooks or not teaching it all. They’re making it disappear. Censorship of history textbooks in the U.S hides important details and truths from the students. It also gives students false impressions of U.S. history.
Puerto Rico, an unincorporated island of the United States, have their own set of cultural beliefs. The foundation of the Puerto Rican structure is family. The word “familismo” is a Puerto Rican word that means close family connections, and it emphasizes the concern for the well-being of the family (Maria de Lourdes B. Serpa, Ed. D, 2005). Although I was born in the United States, my family is from Puerto Rico (Kay, 2018).
These words by poets Aurora and Rosario Morales, Puerto Rican Americans, reveal the struggle of the average Puerto Rican. For example, most islanders do not fully understand who they are or how to present themselves when someone asks, “What is your family’s ancestry like?” or, “Where does Puerto Rico get its unique culture?” These questions spark the idea of a questioning identity. This is because the island of Puerto Rico was formed with the help of many different cultures. Are the people of this island African?
After the WW2 this became the way to escape the large poverty population in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans with residency in Puerto Rico cann’t vote in the US Primary elections or for congress only the nominate vote. Only Puerto Ricans with Residency in the 50 states can vote. 1918-1999 Many Military bases have open and closed of which only 1 base remains, It is The Buchanan Army base in Guaynabo Transition 4: “Now that you have heard my speech, I want you to remember these important points.” 7.
In a vote 61 percent of Puerto Rican citizens voted for statehood. Citizens of Puerto Rico have shown nationalism for the US by waving the United States flag and supporting the
The Land of the Free… Well, Except Puerto Rico Whenever Americans think of Puerto Rico, they tend to think first of the beautiful Caribbean vacation destination. Whenever Puerto Ricans think of their island, they see the years of mistreatment and hardship that the island has endured. Puerto Rico has been the property of other countries for nearly five hundred years, but that does not give the United States a right to continue to ignore it. Puerto Rico’s status as a United States commonwealth keeps citizens from playing a part in fixing the political issues within the island. Without representation in the United States federal government nor political independence, Puerto Rico is powerless and silent.
For one, even though Cuba had intense difficulties in the past, it 's been able to provide for itself and sustain its own economy. However as for Puerto Rico, it 's recently had a large decline in its economy. Due to the decline, it 's had to rely on the United States in federal aid, and as a consequence Puerto Rico 's “unemployment rate swelled to about 16% compared to that of Cuba, which stands at only 2.4%”. In fact, these unemployment rates have again changed the view of the islands. Puerto Rico is now viewed as an island that 's close to falling apart.
Often the question was: why should we fight for rights for foreigners that we don’t even have at home? (Doc 3) “Black Power” groups, such as the Black Panthers and organization led my Malcolm X, used fast action and protest to get their way, while others simply ignored draft summons or joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee with Martin Luther King Jr. Across the country, groups participated in draft card burnings and clear evasion of the draft as a means of protest. The draft was a major topic of protest, sparking the remarks of social commentators
Congress also passed the Foraker Act, which ended military rule and set up a civil government. The act gave the president of the United States the power to appoint Puerto Rico’s governor and members of the upper house of its legislature.
During the Chicano Nationalist Movement, a well-known speaker, Rodolfo ‘Corky’ Gonzales, delivered a speech titled Chicano Nationalism: Victory for La Raza. In this speech, Rodolfo Gonzales tries to unify the Latin American people within the United States by using the idea of a family and to create a new political organization for the Chicano people. This speech was a cumulation of various ideas which stemmed from his own life, the experiences of the Chicano people, and the Chicano Nationalist Movement in general. Each of these factors contributed to the context of the speech and how the ideas within the speech are presented by Rodolfo Gonzales. Rodolfo ‘Corky’ Gonzales was born to Federico and Indalesia Gonzales, two Mexican immigrants, on June 18, 1928.
Conflict is one of the most basic elements of natural human behavior. Conflict, from a literary standpoint, serves its purpose to create tension within a story, which as a result keeps readers interested and engaged. Whether the conflict is with another person, with nature, or within yourself, it is ubiquitous and unavoidable. In Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, the struggles that Henry faces help to give depth and meaning to the story, as well as develop Henry as a character.
Even though the immigrant experience of all Latinos is essentially different due to different circumstances, it is clear to see that many Latino communities keep their traditions and cultural values are deep ingrained in their communities. This, defines the Latino experience in the United States because it allows them to create a new life in the US while at the same time keeping bits of their cultures. Two Latino communities that are a good example of this are the Mexican and Puerto Rican communities in the US. What’s makes these two communities different from other Latino communities is the fact that these two countries have a long history with the United States. Thus, it is no surprise that there were many Mexicans and Puerto Ricans living in the US long before any other Latinos decided to establish as communities in this country.
In 1943 the suit zoot riots occurred, this is the event where “a mob of U.S. servicemen took to the streets in taxicabs and began attacking Latinos and stripping them of their suits”. In the local papers it was made seem like the racial attacks were a vigilante respond to an immigrant crime wave and police would mostly only arrest the Latinos who fought back. These riots demonstrates how unfair the law enforcement was to the Latinos being attacked and how badly Latinos were treated by their peers. This type of mistreatment and discrimination towards them was not uncommon In the 1900s, in fact latinos were heavily discriminated against in the 1900s.