ince September 2017, many off-island discussions about Puerto Rico have revolved entirely around Hurricane Maria. In a way, talking about the hurricane is inevitable; its aftermath’s horrors are still felt and dealt with each day. However, many of the issues Puerto Ricans face today were present before the hurricane hit: poverty and neglect, inequitable access to energy, failing institutions, a debt-ridden economy, rampant corruption, and distrust in state officials. Much of this can be attributed to Puerto Rico’s history of colonization and its continued colonial relationship to the United States.

Puerto Rico, once a colony of Spain, was acquired by the United States of America after the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Now an unincorporated territory of the United States, its citizens are technically American, though Puerto Ricans who live on the island have virtually no representation in American politics and no right to vote for American presidents or members of congress. Puerto Rico remains in a state of national limbo, contributing further to the island’s nickname: The Oldest Colony.

Puerto Rico’s history and culture are rich with traditions spanning from multiple non-Spanish contributors as well. These include the Taínos— the original Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean (before European colonization of the Americas), Africans (from the forced migration of African slaves during European conquest of the “New World”), and now, Americans. In many ways the continued practice of Puerto Rican culture is an act of resistance against an ongoing legacy of colonialism that has come to define the island for over 500 years. Today, this resistance is exemplified by micro-farms growing more diverse crops and relying less on American imports. This creates greater space for community farmers’ markets and for chefs to highlight traditional Puerto Rican dishes at their restaurants. Some communities have also begun organizing health centres, and work and education opportunities for their citizens, while artists on the island and in the diaspora are creating work that contributes to and explores Puerto Rican identity. 

The goal of this project is to draw attention to some of the ongoing issues Puerto Ricans The goal of this project is to draw attention to some of the ongoing issues Puerto Ricans face in their daily lives.  It is an attempt to shed light on those who continue to struggle for and define a Puerto Rican identity that, for many, continues to be problematically tied to the island’s relationship with the United States.

I strongly encourage everyone who engages with these photographs to seek out the work of Puerto Rican photographers, filmmakers, authors, poets, and historians. There is no better way to learn about Puerto Rico and its people than from Puerto Ricans themselves.

Puertorriqueños is an ongoing project about the lives of Puerto Ricans.

Ron David Butler is a photographer and filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. Ron’s photographic work has appeared in Vice and Eater.
rondavidbutler.com