despite those who say, go back to your own country, puerto rico is part of the u.s. it s not a state. but its inhabitants are 100% american. and this right here is el viejo, san juan, the oldest part of a heavily fortified colonial city established in 1521 by none other than ponce de leon. and the spaniards named it puerto rico, aka rich port, so you can get an idea of what their intentions were for this island. sugar, spices, gold, just a few of the perks the spanish enjoyed for over 400 years. that is, until the u.s. was happy to help, you know, liberate the island from the spanish and make it a u.s. commonwealth. that means puerto rico is neither an independent country nor an official state. and its people don t have a vote in the u.s. congress or in presidential elections. despite all of that, puerto ricans are unstoppable. and their cultural impact on the u.s. and the world? massive. to really get to the bottom of how puerto rico has not only survived but thrived requi
and this right here is el viejo, san juan, the oldest part of a heavily fortified colonial city established in 1521 by none other than ponce de leon. and the spaniards named it puerto rico, aka rich port, so you can get an idea of what their intentions were for this island. sugar, spices, gold, just a few of the perks the spanish enjoyed for over 400 years. that is, until the u.s. was happy to help, you know, liberate the island from the spanish and make it a u.s. commonwealth. that means puerto rico is neither an independent country nor an official state. and its people don t have a vote in the u.s. congress or in presidential elections. despite all of that, puerto ricans are unstoppable. and their cultural impact on the u.s. and the world? massive. to really get to the bottom of how puerto rico has not only survived but thrived requires an understanding of the cultural history of the island. so that s what we re going to do now. and in case you re new to this show, that s l
oh, that s right. despite those who say, go back to your own country, puerto rico is part of the u.s. it s not a state. but its inhabitants are 100% american. and this right here is el viejo, san juan, the oldest part of a heavily fortified colonial city established in 1521 by none other than ponce de leon. and the spaniards named it puerto rico, aka rich port, so you can get an idea of what their intentions were for this island. sugar, spices, gold, just a few of the perks the spanish enjoyed for over 400 years. that is, until the u.s. was happy to help, you know, liberate the island from the spanish and make it a u.s. commonwealth. that means puerto rico is neither an independent country nor an official state. and its people don t have a vote in the u.s. congress or in presidential elections. despite all of that, puerto ricans are unstoppable. and their cultural impact on the u.s. and the world? massive. to really get to the bottom of how puerto rico has not only survived
For this island. Sugar, spices, gold, just a few of the perks the spanish enjoyed for over 400 years. That is, until the u. S. Was happy to help, you know, liberate the island from the spanish and make it a u. S. Commonwealth. That means puerto rico is neither an independent country nor an official state. And its people dont have a vote in the u. S. Congress or in president ial elections. Despite all of that, Puerto Ricans are unstoppable. And their Cultural Impact on the u. S. And the world . Massive. To really get to the bottom of how puerto rico has not only survived but thrived requires an understanding of the cultural history of the island. So thats what were going to do now. And in case youre new to this show, thats like our whole mo here. [upbeat latintinged music] [upbeat latintinged music] music has become the love language between the u. S. And puerto rico. From the time of the tainos to the Enslaved Africans who were brought here later on to modern day, music has been an out