Puerto Rico Open Your Eyes

🗓 Why the Numbers Have Risen Natural disasters (especially Hurricane Maria in 2017): Many residents left the island or lost pets, boosting the stray population by up to 200,000 thesatoproject.org + 7latinamericanscience.org + 7greatergood.com +7 . Economic hardship : High poverty and low spay/neuter rates fuel unchecked breeding rozziemayanimalalliance.org + 1en.wikipedia.org +1 . Cultural attitud...

Puerto Rico: Still “Strategic”? Or Just an Outdated Excuse? Some say “The U.S. will never let go of Puerto Rico because it’s strategic for defense.” That thinking might’ve made sense in the 1800s or during World War II —when naval bases and geography determined power. But we’re in 2025. With modern satellite tech, long-range missiles, drones, and cyber warfare, the U.S. no longer needs Puerto Rico...

Puerto Ricans born on the island are U.S. citizens by statute, not by the Constitution — and that distinction is extremely important. 🇺🇸 1. How Puerto Ricans Got U.S. Citizenship Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens through the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 , a congressional statute — not a constitutional amendment or birthright clause like the 14th Amendment. ⚖️ 2. Is Puerto Rican Citizenship Protecte...

Some Puerto Ricans are quick to dismiss the idea of Puerto Rico reuniting with Spain as an autonomous province because they say: “I don’t want to be ruled by a king.” But let’s be honest—that reaction often comes from a place of misinformation . What many don’t realize is that Spain today is a democracy. A full parliamentary democracy with elected representatives , a functioning Constitution since...

"Las Carpetas" de Puerto Rico were secret surveillance files created by the Puerto Rican Police—often in collaboration with the FBI—between the 1940s and late 1980s. These files tracked the political beliefs, activities, associations, and even daily lives of thousands of Puerto Ricans, particularly those advocating for Puerto Rican independence or considered "subversive" by U.S.-aligned authoritie...

1948: The Gag Law (Ley de la Mordaza) – Puerto Rico’s Silenced Voice In 1948, Law 53 , infamously known as “La Ley de la Mordaza” (The Gag Law) , was enacted by Puerto Rico’s legislature — under pressure from the U.S. government — to suppress the growing independence movement . 🚫 What the Gag Law Criminalized: Singing patriotic songs like La Borinqueña (revolutionary version) Speaking or writing...

1. Historical Legacy of the Spanish Empire Spain once ruled Puerto Rico as a colonial monarchy , with absolute authority vested in the Crown. Many Puerto Ricans associate “Spain” with the era of imperial domination , where the King was the ultimate ruler . This outdated perception ignores the fact that modern Spain is a constitutional monarchy , not an absolute one. 📺 2. Media and Cultural Portra...

Is Bad Bunny being politically targeted simply for speaking his truth? Recent concerns about Puerto Rican politicians using state power to penalize public figures over their content or political ideology have many asking: Is this about tax decrees — or censorship? ⚖️ 💰 The attempt to revoke tax benefits as retaliation against artists like Bad Bunny isn’t just about taxes. It’s about silencing voi...

The United States could theoretically grant Puerto Rico independence or allow it to become an autonomous province of Spain— because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, not a state. Under U.S. constitutional and international law, Congress has the authority to decide the island’s political status. Here's why it's possible , and even how the U.S. could benefit from it: ✅ Why It’s Legally and Political...

WHY PUERTO RICAN YOUTH ARE LOOKING TOWARD SPAIN 1. 🔍 Rediscovering Identity & Ancestry Many Puerto Ricans are reclaiming their Spanish roots , especially with the rise in DNA testing and renewed interest in Puerto Rican history before 1898. Youth are questioning the U.S.-centric narrative and learning that Puerto Rico had Spanish citizenship and autonomy before the U.S. invasion. Cultural pri...

Puerto Rico’s Political Debate: Missing the Plan For decades, Puerto Ricans on the island have passionately debated between statehood and independence . But here’s what many fail to understand: If you want the U.S. government—or the international community—to take Puerto Rico seriously, you have to think like a business asking for a loan. 📊 Any business applying for funding must present a clear p...

📜 Open Letter to Bad Bunny: "La Historia Te Llama, Benito" Querido Benito, You’ve shaken the world with your lyrics, your style, and your power to speak truth in a world full of silence. But now, Puerto Rico needs your voice louder than ever—not on stage, but in our story. For over 125 years, Puerto Rico has lived under a shadow—a colony of the United States, denied the dignity of voting rights,...

Before the Taíno, several earlier Indigenous cultures lived in Puerto Rico, each contributing to the island's pre-Columbian history. Here's a simplified breakdown of the main groups that inhabited the island before the rise of the Taíno :

Are you the same person today as you were 20 years ago? Absolutely not. The same goes for countries—especially Spain. Yet many people still cling to what Spain did to Puerto Rico over 500 years ago, ignoring the reality that Spain today is not the Spain of the past. Spain has a completely different government structure. The king now has minimal power, and the country is a modern parliamentary demo...

In the early 16th century, Spanish colonizers began importing enslaved Africans to Puerto Rico, marking the island’s entry into the brutal transatlantic slave tradewelcome.topuertorico.orgelliesbookz.wordpress.com . Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León established the colony in 1508, and by 1509 a few free Black men (such as Juan Garrido and Pedro Mejías) arrived as part of his entourageelliesb...

What If Puerto Rico were to become an autonomous province of Spain again. A dramatic and highly speculative political shift—there could be a mix of potential benefits and drawbacks. Focusing on hypothetical benefits, here’s how Puerto Rico might gain from such a change. Don't forget to subscribe and support our YouTube channel at @puertoricoopenyoureyes or visit our website at www.puertoricoabranl...

📆 Historical Context: July 25, 1898 – The United States invades Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. December 10, 1898 – Treaty of Paris : Spain cedes Puerto Rico to the U.S. as war spoils. 1899–1900 – Spain formally withdraws Spanish citizenship from Puerto Ricans. 1900 – The Foraker Act establishes civilian government under U.S. control but does not grant U.S. citizenship to Puerto Rica...

A person not born in Puerto Rico can be considered Puerto Rican in various ways, depending on legal, cultural, and personal identity factors. 🇵🇷 Legal and Cultural Identity 1. U.S. Citizenship: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and individuals born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by birth. However, being born outside of Puerto Rico does not preclude someone from identifying as Puerto Rican, especi...

🎙️ Join Our Team! 🇵🇷 We’re looking for passionate individuals between the ages of 18 to 33 to become co-hosts for our brand-new podcast, “Puerto Rico Open Your Eyes.” Selected candidates will serve as State Ambassadors and represent their U.S. state or Puerto Rico on the show! If you're ready to raise awareness, speak truth, and make a difference—this is your chance. 👉 Learn more and apply today:...

Puerto Ricans on the island sometimes criticize Puerto Ricans born in the United States (often called "Nuyoricans" , "Diaspora Boricuas" , or simply "stateside Puerto Ricans" ) for several cultural, historical, and identity-based reasons. These tensions are rooted in complex emotions about authenticity, colonization, displacement, and survival. Here are the key reasons why this criticism happens:...

If Puerto Rico were to become an autonomous province of Spain again—a dramatic and highly speculative political shift—there could be a mix of potential benefits and drawbacks. Focusing on hypothetical benefits , here’s how Puerto Rico might gain from such a change: 1. EU Citizenship and Rights Puerto Ricans would likely gain full European Union citizenship through Spain, allowing: Freedom of movem...

Puerto Rico: 125 Years of Silence – What They Never Taught Us” 🎙️ Podcast Script Segment: Intro (1–2 mins): Open with the myth vs. reality about Spain and the U.S. (“Many say Spain robbed us… but what has the U.S. done in 125 years?”). Historical Timeline (5–7 mins): Narrate decade-by-decade, using the atrocities and abuses you outlined—each decade ends with a key question (“Was this freedom?”). M...

Puerto Rico Abran los Ojos (Puerto Rico: Open Your Eyes) is a bold and thought-provoking podcast dedicated to uncovering the true history of Borikén—the island we now know as Puerto Rico. Through weekly episodes, we seek to awaken consciousness across the Latino community, sparking real conversations that bridge generations and borders. Our show dives deep into the stories often left untold, explo...

Si Puerto Rico se convirtiera en una autonomía de España —similar a regiones como Cataluña o las Islas Canarias— el impacto en la juventud puertorriqueña dependería de cómo se estructurara la autonomía. A continuación, se exploran posibles efectos en distintas áreas: 1. Educación Positivo: Acceso a universidades españolas y europeas : Los jóvenes podrían estudiar en España y la Unión Europea con b...