All Of It (WNYC)

Episode: "A History of Puerto Rico"

Host: Kusha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, assistant professor of Latin American and Caribbean history at the University of Wisconsin, Madison
Air Date: June 7, 2024

Episode Overview

In this illuminating episode, Kusha Navadar welcomes Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo to discuss his new book, Puerto Rico: A National History, released in conjunction with the upcoming Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. The conversation provides a sweeping yet intimate exploration of Puerto Rican history, from its indigenous Taino roots through Spanish colonization and U.S. territorial status, to present-day cultural dynamics and diasporic identity.

Meléndez-Badillo emphasizes the multiplicity of Puerto Rican experiences, the ongoing impact of colonialism, and the importance of highlighting overlooked voices—especially those of women, the working class, Black Puerto Ricans, and queer individuals. The episode weaves in personal stories from callers, connecting historical context to contemporary celebrations and debates about what it means to be Puerto Rican today.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Multiple Puerto Ricos: Beyond a Single Narrative

• Dr. Meléndez-Badillo describes Puerto Rico as a complex, ever-shifting identity—one not captured by a single story.
• He challenges traditional histories centered on famous men and official milestones, instead spotlighting the multitude of Puerto Rican experiences, especially those historically marginalized.
• Quote:

  "There isn't a single Puerto Rican experience, but there are many … Puerto Rico is a colonial possession of the United States. And although we do not have a sovereign nation state, people have created complex ideas of the nation, and thus they have created multiple Puerto Rican experiences." (03:49)

2. Approach to History: Inclusivity and Structure

• Meléndez-Badillo’s book starts personally—with his grandparents—establishing a lens of intimacy and lived experience.
• The book is organized chronologically, but notably does not begin with Columbus; instead, it starts with the Taino people to center pre-Columbian society and their ongoing legacy.
• Quote:

  "I did not want to begin with Christopher Columbus arriving in Borikén. In fact, I jokingly say in the book that Columbus was stranded at sea and he was discovered by indigenous communities." (08:55)

• The narrative moves to the present, closing with the cultural phenomenon of Bad Bunny, symbolizing contemporary Puerto Rican identity.

3. Indigenous History: Taino Legacy and Colonial Encounter

• Meléndez-Badillo discusses the challenges of reconstructing Taino history due to the lack of written records and reliance on archaeological findings and biased colonial sources.
• He stresses both the complexity and the resilience of Taino society, countering narratives of extinction and passivity.
• Quote:

  "The people that were in Borikén when the Spaniards arrived were a highly complex society … they were not simply extinct, they continued. And there's a story of survival there as well." (11:46)

4. Puerto Rico’s Political Status: From Spanish Colony to U.S. Commonwealth

• A concise historical overview: Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony from 1493 until the U.S. acquired it in 1898; U.S. citizenship was imposed in 1917, establishing second-class status.
• The “Commonwealth” designation (1952) was designed to remove Puerto Rico from the UN list of colonies, but real sovereignty was never granted.
• Meléndez-Badillo uses “second-class citizens” to describe Puerto Ricans’ lack of full constitutional protections and the right to vote in presidential elections.
• Quote:

  "Once I land in San Juan, Puerto Rico ... I am not fully protected by the U.S. constitution’s Bill of Rights. ... We are not fully protected by the Bill of Rights when we are physically in the archipelago." (19:58)

5. Diaspora Experiences and Cultural Pride

• Listeners call in with personal stories reflecting generational pride, cultural continuity, and complex identity formation within the diaspora.
• Grace from Far Rockaway:

  "Even though some of us are second generation now, we are still very proud to be Puerto Ricans. No matter what happens, it's always us." (24:06)

• Marie Carmen from North Brunswick, NJ:

  "I've been living in the States more years than ... the island. And I feel more Puerto Rican as every day passes by. ... When strangers ask my son his identity, he proudly responds Puerto Rican. So I have done my job." (30:20)

6. Cultural Renaissance & Activism: Bad Bunny, Reggaeton, and Queerness

• Navadar and Meléndez-Badillo discuss Puerto Rico's current global influence via reggaeton, with stars like Bad Bunny, Eladio Carrión, and Young Miko.
• This musical explosion signals changing perceptions of Puerto Rico, introduces queer representation, and is deeply intertwined with activism—highlighting contemporary issues such as displacement and gentrification.
• Quote:

  "I think that Bad Bunny now, being ... the hottest star in the world, I think it's important. And also because he has a huge platform ... in the book I end ... with a song ... in which he talks about the power outages ... it captures a moment in contemporary Puerto Rico." (27:24)
  "They are changing the game by also queering what people consider Puerto Rico ... it highlights that plurality and that beauty of multiplicity in both Puerto Ricanness and queerness and history too." (28:50)

7. Historical Activism

• Meléndez-Badillo connects current musical activism to a longer trajectory of Puerto Rican artists and activists speaking out through their platforms.
• Notable mention of Sylvia Rivera, a trans activist, as an example of Puerto Rico’s central role in wider movements for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Multiple Coexisting Puerto Ricos:

  "What we have on Sunday in New York City is an example of how the people of Puerto Rico continue to identify themselves as Puerto Ricans, even if they're not in the archipelago." (04:35)

• On Decolonization and Sovereignty:

  "Citizenship never meant being fully integrated into U.S. Society and polity." (21:13)

• On Artistic Activism:

  "We are a massive, massive cultural producer ... music, art, plastic arts, etc. But I think that Bad Bunny now being ... the hottest star in the world, I think it's important." (27:24)

• Personal Connection and Identity Transmission:

  "When strangers ask my son what is he or what is his identity, he responds Puerto Rican ... so I have done my job." – Marie Carmen (30:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Main Theme Intro & Book Context — (02:05–03:49)
• History Approach and the Multiplicity of Puerto Rico — (03:49–05:11)
• Structuring an Inclusive History — (06:32–08:55)
• Indigenous Taino Society & History — (11:46–15:19)
• Puerto Rico’s Status as U.S. Commonwealth — (17:57–19:51)
• Second-Class Citizenship & Voting Rights — (19:58–23:23)
• Diaspora Call-in: Grace’s Family Story — (24:06–25:38)
• Bad Bunny & Cultural Impact — (26:38–29:35)
• Diaspora Call-in: Marie Carmen’s Identity Story — (30:14–31:07)

Conclusion

This episode deftly blends sweeping Puerto Rican history with personal narrative and contemporary cultural transformation. Dr. Meléndez-Badillo advocates for recognizing the island’s plurality and ongoing colonial status, challenging listeners to see Puerto Rican identity as alive, diverse, and deeply resilient. The rise of artists like Bad Bunny embodies a new, globalized narrative—one of pride, activism, and multiplicity—while personal stories from callers ground these themes in day-to-day experience.

Listeners are left with a powerful sense of the importance of history—told inclusively—both for those living on the island and across its far-reaching diaspora.