Research Project

During a freshman year project for my Introduction to Latino Studies class, one of my interviewees referred to Puerto Rico as one of the world’s last colonies. This comment, alongside the stories told to me by my Abuelita and Abuelito, inspired me to embrace my Puerto Rican heritage through this project. This paper summarizes and examines a condensed history of Puerto Rico after it was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1898. This analysis is used to inform my recommendation for the political future of the island, given the options of statehood, independence, or free association with the United States, as laid out in the recently proposed 2022 Puerto Rico Status Act. This paper explores the viability of each option for Puerto Ricans, looking at their treatment by the US government and general American population, as well as the economic and political conditions they currently endure. The findings indicate that independence, alongside monetary reparations, is the most viable option to preserve Puerto Rican culture and enhance the quality of life for Puerto Ricans.