History Lesson Time!

Why do Puerto Ricans, or should I say black Puerto Ricans, call themselves Spanish? 

I don’t know why this is an issue, especially among black Americans, but it’s time for history. 

After the Spaniards invaded and conquered Borikén what is now Puerto Rico. For a while, Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain up until 1812 the Cádiz Constitution made Puerto Rico into a province of Spain which mean Puerto Rico wasn’t a colony of Spain but a part of Spain which means Puerto Ricans were seen as Spaniards. 

So Puerto Ricans of all colors and races saw themselves as Spaniards, not only because the vast of majority of Puerto Ricans had partial or full Spanish ancestry, but they were legally identified as Spanish. So this Spanish identity has been passed down to generation even after the U.S. took Puerto Rico when Spain lose the Spanish-American War.

Now don’t get wrong, Puerto Ricans are fiercely proud of their Puerto Rican identity. We are Puerto Rican first and everything second, but we cannot deny that our culture, language, and way of life was heavily influenced by Spaniards (mainly Canarians and Andalusians).