Puerto Rican people 82536 224327588 2008-07-08T10:43:14Z 217.42.146.30 {{dablink|This article is about the residents inhabiting the island of [[Puerto Rico]]. For stateside people of Puerto Rican national origin, see [[Puerto Rican American]]}} {{Infobox Ethnic group |group = '''Puerto Rican'''<br><small>''Puertorriqueño''</small> |image = [[Image:Graciela Rivera.JPG|61px]][[Image:AngelRiveroMendez.gif|64px]][[Image:Luis Munoz Rivera.jpg|72px]][[Image:200-roberto.jpg|67px]]<br>[[Image:RickyMartin.jpg|70px]][[Image:Puerto Rican Governor Sila Calderon at the Pentagon, Feb 27, 2001.jpg|64px]][[Image:Benicio del Toro.JPG|65px]][[Image:Yolandita 2007.jpg|65px]] |caption = <small>Notable Puerto Ricans:<br>[[Graciela Rivera]]{{·}}[[Ángel Rivero Méndez]]{{·}}[[Luis Muñoz Rivera]]{{·}}[[Roberto Clemente]]{{·}}[[Ricky Martín]]{{·}}[[Sila Calderon]]{{·}}[[Benicio del Toro]]{{·}}[[Yolandita Monge]] |poptime = '''Puerto Rican'''<br>'''3,994,259 ([[Island]])'''<br><small>(Island's population are U.S Citizens) |region1 = {{flagcountry|Puerto Rico}} (2007 est.) |pop1 = 3,994,259 |ref1 = <ref>[http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-ann-est.html U.S. Census Annual Population Estimates 2000 to 2006]</ref> |region2 = {{flagcountry|United States}} (2006 est.) |pop2 = 3,987,947 |ref2 = <ref>[http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hispanic/ASEC2004/2004CPS_tab1.2a.html U.S. Census, The Hispanic Population in the United States: 2004 Detailed Tables, Section I, Table 1.2]</ref> |langs = [[Puerto Rican Spanish|Spanish]] |religions = Predominantly [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and large [[Protestantism]]. Minority [[Judaism]], [[Islam]], others. |related-c = [[Spanish people|Spanish]] {{·}} [[Italian people|Italian]]{{·}}[[French people|French]]{{·}}[[Mestizos]]{{·}}[[Amerindians]]{{·}}[[Mulattos]]{{·}}[[Zambos]]{{·}}[[Africans]] }} A '''Puerto Rican''' ({{lang-es|'puertorriqueño'}}) ([[Taíno]] term: '''boricua''') is a person who was born in [[Puerto Rico]]. In Puerto Rico, people use the [[Spanish language]] as their primary tongue. Puerto Ricans born and raised in the United States who use the [[English language]] as their [[mother tongue]] are also referred to as Puerto Rican, although they are not native Puerto Ricans, but descendants of Puerto Ricans. Rarely are Puerto Ricans born in the [[diaspora]] called Puerto Rican Americans, or simply Americans. Puerto Ricans, who also commonly identify themselves as "Boricuas," are largely the descendants of [[European ethnic groups|European]]s, [[Taíno]] Indians, [[African people|Africans]] or a blend of these groups which has produced a very diversified population. The population of Puerto Ricans and descendants is estimated to be between 8 to 10 million worldwide, with most living within the islands of Puerto Rico, Central [[Florida]], and in New York City there is a large [[Nuyorican]] community, It should be noted that most Boricuas don't consider [[Nuyoricans]] to be Puerto Rican or Boricua. ==Ancestry== The original inhabitants of Puerto Rico are the [[Taíno]] Indians, who called the island ''Borikén''. However, as in other parts of the North and South American continents, the native people soon diminished in number after the arrival of European settlers. The negative impact on the numbers of indigenous peoples was almost entirely the result of Old World diseases that the Amerindians had no natural/bodily defenses against, including [[measles]], [[chicken pox]], [[mumps]], [[influenza]] and even the [[common cold]]. In fact, it was estimated that majority of all the indigenous inhabitants of the New World perished due to contact and contamination with those Old World diseases, while those that survived were killed by warfare with each other and different European groups. Both run-away slaves and freed Africans (the Spanish, upon establishing a foothold, quickly began to import Sub-Saharan African slaves to work in expanding their colonies in the Caribbean) were in Puerto Rico. This interbreeding was far more common in Latin America because of those Spanish and Portuguese mercantile colonial policies exemplified by the oft-romanticized male conquistadors/adventurers (e.g. [[Hernán Cortés]]). Aside from the presence of slaves, some indication for why the native population was so diluted was the tendency for conquistadors to bring with them scores of single men hoping to serve God, country, or their own interests. Many exploratory migrations entailed violent pillaging to gain personal and national wealth, prestige, and power while spreading Christianity, ostensibly for the benefit of the natives, but also for that of the church, and God, all of which were arguably destructive influences on indigenous societies. All of these factors would indeed prove detrimental for the Taínos in Puerto Rico and surrounding Caribbean islands, so much so that by the early 1500s, Taínos as a people were extinct on the island. In the 16th century, a significant depth of Puerto Rican culture began to develop with the [[African immigration to Puerto Rico|import of Sub-Saharan African slaves]] by the Spanish, as well as by the [[France|French]], the [[Great Britain|British]], the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and the [[Portugal|Portuguese]]. Thousands of Spanish settlers also immigrated to Puerto Rico from the [[Canary Islands]] during the 18th and 19th centuries, so many so that whole Puerto Rican villages and towns were founded by Canarian immigrants, and their descendants would later form a majority of the Spanish population on the island. These were followed by the arrival of [[French people|French]] (especially [[Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico|Corsicans]]) immigrants along with smaller waves of [[Dutch people|Dutch]], [[Chinese people|Chinese]], [[Greek people|Greek]], [[Italian people|Italian]], [[Malta|Maltese]], [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] (especially [[Azores|Azoreans]]), and [[Germans|German]] immigrants. In recent times, Puerto Rico has been the destination for immigrants from [[Cuba]], the [[Dominican Republic]], [[South America]] and [[Spain]], as well from islands of the [[West Indies]]. In [[1791]], the slaves in Saint-Domingue ([[Haiti]]), revolted against their [[French immigration to Puerto Rico|French]] masters. Many of the French escaped to Puerto Rico via what is now the [[Dominican Republic]] and settled in the west coast of the island, especially in [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]]. Puerto Rico has some British ancestry, notably [[Scottish people|Scots]] came to reside there in the 17th and 18th centuries. ==Puerto Rican heritage== {| class="wikitable" align="right" |- !colspan=3|Race - [[Puerto Rico]] <ref>[http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/cde/demsem/loveman-muniz.pdf Puerto Rico's History on race]</ref> |----- ! Year ! [[White people|White %]] ! Non-White % |----- | '''1887'''||59.5||40.5 |----- | '''1897''' ||64.3||35.7 |----- | '''1899'''||61.8||38.2 |----- | '''1910'''||65.5||34.5 |----- | '''1920''' ||73.0||27.0 |----- | '''1930'''||74.3||25.7 |----- | '''1935'''||76.2||23.8 |----- | '''1940''' ||76.5||23.5 |----- | '''1950'''||79.7||20.3 |----- | '''2000'''||80.5||19.5 |----- | '''2006<small>est:</small>'''||75.4||24.6 |----- |} ===Ethnic background=== The Original Inhabitants of Puerto Rico *[[Taíno]] The European heritage of Puerto Ricans comes primarily from one source: *{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spanish people|Spanish]] Other sources of European populations: *{{flagicon|Corsica}} [[Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[French immigration to Puerto Rico]] *{{flagicon|Germany}} [[German immigration to Puerto Rico]] *{{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} [[Irish immigration to Puerto Rico]] *{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] *{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Scottish people|Scottish]] *{{flagicon|Malta}} [[Maltese people|Maltese]] African Heritage: *[[African people|West Africans]], mostly forced-migration to Puerto Rico *[[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] *[[Igbo people|Igbo]] People from Asia: *{{flagicon|China}} [[Chinese immigration to Puerto Rico]] ===Modern Puerto Rican identity and heritage=== The [[Puerto Rico]] of today has come to form some of its own social customs, cultural matrix, historically-rooted traditions, and its own unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions within the [[Spanish language]]. Even after the attempted assimilation of Puerto Rico into the United States in the early 20th century, the majority of the people of Puerto Rico feel pride in their nationality as "Puerto Ricans", regardless of the individual's particular racial, ethnic, political, or economic background. Many Puerto Ricans are consciously aware of the rich contribution of all cultures represented on the island. This diversity can be seen in the everyday lifestyle of many Puerto Ricans such as the profound European influences in Puerto Rico regarding food, music, dance, and architecture. In the 2000 [[U.S. Census]] Puerto Ricans were asked to identify which racial category with which they personally identify. The breakdown is as follows: [[White people|white]] (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, [[Black people|black]] 8%, [[Amerindian]] 0.4%, [[Asian people|Asian]] 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%. It is important to note that the U.S. Census does not have the option to choose ethnic background. Based on current DNA studies in Puerto Rico, the majority of Puerto Ricans can be considered to be [[Mestizos]] (Spanish and Amerindian), a mix of three races, Spanish, Taino Indian and African, predominantly Spanish (European), or [[Mulattos]] and African. ===Puerto Ricans and the United States=== [[Image:PR Migration 1995-2000.jpg|180px|right|thumb|Puerto Rican Migration Patterns]] {{main|Puerto Ricans in the United States}} {{seealso|Puerto Rican migration to New York}} U.S. residents have also migrated from the U.S. mainland to different parts of Puerto Rico, especially to the [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan metro area]] and the southern portion of the island, mainly for tourism purposes and for business ventures, including in the financial, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. They are also a part of the United States. Part of the money made is also by the production of sugarcane and tourism. ===Boricua=== Puerto Ricans often proudly identify themselves as ''Boricua'', loosely based on ''Boriqueno'' (archaic), both words originating from the [[Taíno]] word ''Boriken'' (also known as ''Boriquén'', ''Borinquen'', or ''Borinquén''), to illustrate their recognition of the island's original Taíno heritage. The word ''Boriken'', which translates to "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord",<ref> {{cite web|author=Chief Pedro Guanikeyu Torres|work=Taino Inter-Tribal Council Inc.|title=The Dictionary of the Taíno Language|url=http://members.dandy.net/~orocobix/tedict.html|accessdate=February 11|accessyear=2006}} </ref> was used by the original Taíno Indian population to refer to the island of Puerto Rico before the arrival of the Spanish. The use of the word ''Boricua'' has been popularized in the island and abroad by descendents of Puerto Rico heritage, commonly using the phrase, ''"Yo soy Boricua"'' ("I am Boricua", or "I am Puerto Rican") to identify themselves as Puerto Ricans. Another variation which is also widely used is ''Borincano'' which translated means "from ''Borinquen''." ===Language=== [[Spanish language|Spanish]] is the predominant language among Puerto Ricans residing in the island. However its vocabulary has expanded with many words and phrases coming from the [[African]] and [[Taíno]] influences of the island. More recently, exclusively used by those who live in the mainland United States, its language has been influenced by Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States by adding English words, pronunciation, and phrases to their vocabulary (for example: Lonchar: to go to lunch), creating a mixture of both languages known as [[Spanglish]]. The spanish used by Puerto Ricans is very creative. Such words like socio, bostel, and mano(spanish slang for bro or homie) have become monumentally moving in the Puerto Rican world. ===Religion=== The great majority of Puerto Ricans are Christians, though there are certain Islamic and Jewish sectors in the island. [[Roman Catholicism]] has been the main religion among Puerto Ricans since the arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century, although the increasing presence of [[Protestantism|Protestant]], [[Latter-Day Saint]] ([[Mormon]]), [[Pentecostal]] and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] denominations has increased under U.S. sovereignty, making modern Puerto Rico an inter-confessional community. ==Political and international status== Since Puerto Rico is a so-called "commonwealth" and not an incorporated [[U.S. State|State]] of the [[United States of America]], not all constitutional rights, privileges and immunities provided by the [[U.S. Constitution]] were extended to the island and its residents by the [[Jones-Shafroth Act]] of 1917. The Jones Act established that Puerto Ricans born prior to 1899 were considered naturalized citizens of Puerto Rico, and anyone born after 1898 were declared naturally-born citizens of the United States; unless the Puerto Rican expressed intentions to remain as a subject of Spain. Since 1917, all Puerto Ricans, whether born within the U.S. or in Puerto Rico are [[United States citizenship|citizens of the United States]]. Puerto Ricans residing in Puerto Rico cannot vote in the U.S. Presidential election, nor are they represented by a voting [[U.S. Representative]] or [[U.S. Senator|Senator]]. They are represented by a [[Resident Commissioner]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] who has the right of voice, but not vote. Puerto Ricans residing in the United States, however, do have all rights and privileges associated with residing in a U.S. State. As statutory U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans born in Puerto Rico may enlist in the U.S. military. Puerto Ricans have been included in the compulsory draft when it has been in effect. Puerto Ricans have fully participated in all U.S. wars since 1898, such as [[Puerto Ricans in World War II|World War II]], the [[Korean War|Korean]] and [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] wars, and the current Middle-Eastern conflicts. Recently, nearly 60 Puerto Ricans have died serving in the [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]] conflicts{{Fact|date=June 2008}}. ==See also== *[[Black history in Puerto Rico|Afro-Puerto Rican]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} 4. U of PR Taíno DNA study- http://www.taino-tribe.org/pr-taino-dna.htm ==Further reading== * ''"Adiós, Borinquen querida": The Puerto Rican Diaspora, Its History, and Contributions,'' by Edna Acosta-Belen, ''et al.'' (Albany, NY: Center for Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies, SUNY-Albany, 2000) * ''Boricua Hawaiiana: Puerto Ricans of Hawaii --- Reflections of the Past and Mirrors of the Future,'' by Blase Camacho Souza (Honolulu: Puerto Rican Heritage Society of Hawaii, 1982) * ''Boricua Literature: A Literary History of the Puerto Rican Diaspora,'' by Lisa Sénchez González (New York: New York University Press, 2001) * ''Boricua Pop: Puerto Ricans and the Latinization of American Culture,'' by Frances Negrón-Muntaner (New York: New York University Press, 2004) * ''Boricuas: Influential Puerto Rican Writings,'' by Roberto Santiago (New York: One World, 1995) * ''Boricuas in Gotham: Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City,'' edited by Gabriel Haslip-Viera, [[Angelo Falcón]] and Félix Matos Rodríguez (Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers, 2004) ==See also== {{Puerto Rican migrations}} *[[Puerto Rican American]] *[[History of Puerto Rico]] *[[Demographics of Puerto Rico]] *[[Black history in Puerto Rico]] *[[List of Puerto Ricans]] *[[List of notable Puerto Ricans]] {{Hispanics/Latinos}} [[Category:Puerto Rican people| ]] [[Category:Puerto Rican society]] [[Category:Social history of Puerto Rico]] [[Category:Cultural history of Puerto Rico]] [[Category:Puerto Rican culture]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in the United States]] [[Category:Afro-Caucasians]] [[es:Boricua]] [[fr:Boricua]] [[hr:Portorikanci]] [[simple:Puerto Rican]] [[sh:Portorikanci]]