SPAN 131 Regional Profile 12: Puerto Rico (¡Yo soy boricua, pa’ que tú lo
sepas!)
Topic and Requirements: Please watch the video ¡Yo soy boricua, pa’ que tú lo sepas! (I am
boricua, just so you know!). This is a documentary film made by the Puerto Rican actor Rosie
Pérez for IFC. This is available for free on the following sites:
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=807d8hQyKII VIMEO:
https://vimeo.com/145556599
As you watch, take notes and answer the questions below. You will take a timed and
graded follow up assessment based on these questions, so you must watch the
video before attempting the quiz. I think you will learn a great deal about the island
and its connection to the USA.
A NOTE ON THE TITLE: Borinquen (or Borikén in the Taíno language) is the ancient
indigenous name for the island. It means “land of the valiant lord.” A “Boricua” is someone of
Puerto Rican heritage.
1. What groups are mentioned when discussing the ancestry of modern day Puerto Ricans?
Spanish? Africans? What other groups contribute to the ethnic makeup of Puerto Rico? Black,
Spanish, French, Dino, auax, Irish, German
2. When Columbus arrived in 1493, what civilization did he find? What were the most
important characteristics and achievements of this civilization? How old was it? Civilization –
Dyno, Had their own religion, male and female chiefs, builds roads and houses that could
withstand Hurricanes, skilled farmers, hunters, fishermen and expert navigators of the sea.
Peaceful people. 4000 year old.
3. We learn in the video that the Spaniards change the name of the island from its indigenous
name “Borinquen” to Puerto Rico. (See NOTE above) What does the name Puerto Rico mean?
Rich Port, Spanish official language, Catholicism
4. Did Americans in the early 20th century know a lot about Puerto Rico? How do we know?
Don’t know much, not new comers , have been here since the beginning. Island of Manhattan
Puerto Rico, Yan Torres established trade with Native Americans
[15:00 minutes* I will add some times here from the YouTube video so you can easily access
the different sections.]
5. What happens in 1898 that affects the island? What role did the USA play?
Spanish-American War, banners of freedom bore by USA, inspired by a nobel purpose. Go and
civilize People in Puerto Rico
6. What did newspapers do to try to convince the American people that we needed to
intervene in Puerto Rico at this time? Why? Primitive people, By divine right, they should go in
and save Puerto Rico and civilize them.
7. Did Puerto Rico want to be annexed by the USA or become an independent nation?
Become independent
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-17-2023 22:03:44 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37063689/SPAN-131-Yo-soy-boricua-assignment-sheetdocx/
, 8. What is the current political relationship the island has with the USA? What is the term and
how is it defined?
Commonwealth, A political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S
9. What rights and obligations do Puerto Ricans have under this status? Can they vote for
president if they live on the island? Do they pay U.S. taxes? Can they be drafted? Are they U.S.
citizens? Are they considered immigrants (legally) here?
US citizens, pay taxes, can be drafted. But if they live in P.R they can not vote for President.
Still considered immigrants by many people.
[19:43]
10. Bringing freedom and democracy to the island were two of the reasons the USA claimed it
intervened in Puerto Rican affairs, but what did the USA get in return?
Military Base and sugar plantation, strategic military location , military bases in carribean to
protect Panama canal.
11. Did the U.S. presence have a positive or negative impact on the people of Puerto Rico in
the decades after it became a part of the USA? What negative impacts are discussed?
People were displaced, Farmers forced off, cities overcrowded, poverty level increases,
12. According to the video, what percentage of Puerto Ricans today lives in poverty? 50%
13. What role did military service play for poor Puerto Ricans? What was the notion of the
“white” and “black” army? How were Puerto Ricans assigned to these posts? Helped them out,
made money.
Black -> brown black eyed
White
Guy sitting behind the disk, looks at you and decides….
[At 25:20, Rosie’s cousin says “Ay, ¡qué jíbara!” – “What a hick!” -- A “jíbaro” is a farmer or
rural worker in Puerto Rico. It has a negative connotation here, but jíbaros are an entire group
of people that should not be seen in this way.]
[28:00]
14. What was Operation Bootstrap? When did it take place?
Economic program in Puerto Rico called Operation Bootstrap. Plan was to lure American
industry to the island. Wanted to encourage people to migrate to the states.
15. What did Operation Bootstrap set out to do? What was brought to the island? Where did
the people go that left the island? What did they do once they got there? To work in farms,
spoke Spanish so couldn’t complain
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-17-2023 22:03:44 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37063689/SPAN-131-Yo-soy-boricua-assignment-sheetdocx/
sepas!)
Topic and Requirements: Please watch the video ¡Yo soy boricua, pa’ que tú lo sepas! (I am
boricua, just so you know!). This is a documentary film made by the Puerto Rican actor Rosie
Pérez for IFC. This is available for free on the following sites:
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=807d8hQyKII VIMEO:
https://vimeo.com/145556599
As you watch, take notes and answer the questions below. You will take a timed and
graded follow up assessment based on these questions, so you must watch the
video before attempting the quiz. I think you will learn a great deal about the island
and its connection to the USA.
A NOTE ON THE TITLE: Borinquen (or Borikén in the Taíno language) is the ancient
indigenous name for the island. It means “land of the valiant lord.” A “Boricua” is someone of
Puerto Rican heritage.
1. What groups are mentioned when discussing the ancestry of modern day Puerto Ricans?
Spanish? Africans? What other groups contribute to the ethnic makeup of Puerto Rico? Black,
Spanish, French, Dino, auax, Irish, German
2. When Columbus arrived in 1493, what civilization did he find? What were the most
important characteristics and achievements of this civilization? How old was it? Civilization –
Dyno, Had their own religion, male and female chiefs, builds roads and houses that could
withstand Hurricanes, skilled farmers, hunters, fishermen and expert navigators of the sea.
Peaceful people. 4000 year old.
3. We learn in the video that the Spaniards change the name of the island from its indigenous
name “Borinquen” to Puerto Rico. (See NOTE above) What does the name Puerto Rico mean?
Rich Port, Spanish official language, Catholicism
4. Did Americans in the early 20th century know a lot about Puerto Rico? How do we know?
Don’t know much, not new comers , have been here since the beginning. Island of Manhattan
Puerto Rico, Yan Torres established trade with Native Americans
[15:00 minutes* I will add some times here from the YouTube video so you can easily access
the different sections.]
5. What happens in 1898 that affects the island? What role did the USA play?
Spanish-American War, banners of freedom bore by USA, inspired by a nobel purpose. Go and
civilize People in Puerto Rico
6. What did newspapers do to try to convince the American people that we needed to
intervene in Puerto Rico at this time? Why? Primitive people, By divine right, they should go in
and save Puerto Rico and civilize them.
7. Did Puerto Rico want to be annexed by the USA or become an independent nation?
Become independent
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-17-2023 22:03:44 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37063689/SPAN-131-Yo-soy-boricua-assignment-sheetdocx/
, 8. What is the current political relationship the island has with the USA? What is the term and
how is it defined?
Commonwealth, A political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S
9. What rights and obligations do Puerto Ricans have under this status? Can they vote for
president if they live on the island? Do they pay U.S. taxes? Can they be drafted? Are they U.S.
citizens? Are they considered immigrants (legally) here?
US citizens, pay taxes, can be drafted. But if they live in P.R they can not vote for President.
Still considered immigrants by many people.
[19:43]
10. Bringing freedom and democracy to the island were two of the reasons the USA claimed it
intervened in Puerto Rican affairs, but what did the USA get in return?
Military Base and sugar plantation, strategic military location , military bases in carribean to
protect Panama canal.
11. Did the U.S. presence have a positive or negative impact on the people of Puerto Rico in
the decades after it became a part of the USA? What negative impacts are discussed?
People were displaced, Farmers forced off, cities overcrowded, poverty level increases,
12. According to the video, what percentage of Puerto Ricans today lives in poverty? 50%
13. What role did military service play for poor Puerto Ricans? What was the notion of the
“white” and “black” army? How were Puerto Ricans assigned to these posts? Helped them out,
made money.
Black -> brown black eyed
White
Guy sitting behind the disk, looks at you and decides….
[At 25:20, Rosie’s cousin says “Ay, ¡qué jíbara!” – “What a hick!” -- A “jíbaro” is a farmer or
rural worker in Puerto Rico. It has a negative connotation here, but jíbaros are an entire group
of people that should not be seen in this way.]
[28:00]
14. What was Operation Bootstrap? When did it take place?
Economic program in Puerto Rico called Operation Bootstrap. Plan was to lure American
industry to the island. Wanted to encourage people to migrate to the states.
15. What did Operation Bootstrap set out to do? What was brought to the island? Where did
the people go that left the island? What did they do once they got there? To work in farms,
spoke Spanish so couldn’t complain
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-17-2023 22:03:44 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37063689/SPAN-131-Yo-soy-boricua-assignment-sheetdocx/
