It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and every year I reflect on my own Hispanic heritage and what it means to me. September 20th marked the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria making landfall on Puerto Rico. I remember Maria as my dad updating me on the status of our relatives on the island. I remember hoping they would be okay.
Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017 just like Maria. However, in a span of six days, Texas
received 100 billion in relief while PR received 6 billion. Donald Trump, who was in his first term as president, in a snarky demeanor compared Maria to Katrina and commented on how the death toll in PR was “like what? 17?”.
3,000 people died.
I’m thinking about Hurricane Maria because of Bad Bunny, the global Latino superstar. He
finished up his residency of concerts in Bayamón on September 20th, as an homage to Maria’s anniversary. He also announced a partnership with Amazon to provide disaster relief, education, and cultural pride on the island. I had said to my dad, “why is Bad Bunny doing more for the island than the federal government?”
But it comes as no surprise that the government isn’t privy to helping. When the federal
government allowed American business to operate tax free on the island, this increased PR’s already hefty debt toll. Since PR is not a state, they are unable to file for bankruptcy (think of Detroit). Puerto Ricans don’t have any voice in the Senate or Congress. The government sterilized women, both saying it “was their only option” and without their consent. FEMA denied assistance post Maria. President Trump has called PR “dirty” and the people “poor”. The military used Vieques as a bomb site and have refused to clean up the explosives left on the island.
Puerto Rico is drowning in politics, colonialism, and gentrification. I couldn’t touch on
everything that has happened to PR, because then I would never stop. I am also thinking about the future of the island. Climate change is making hurricanes worse. If help was barely received during Maria, I can’t imagine what would happen if another storm were to hit.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, I implore you to think about the Latino country within our
country: a little island in the Caribbean that has more heart and grit than the entire mainland combined.
¡Puerto Rico, se levanta!
Iliana Martinez
Student Submission
