Irma E. Garca
The involvement of Puerto Ricans in the political process of the Island is very different to their political involvement on the Mainland. Politics in Puerto Rico are very important for its constituents. One of the reasons is the continuous debate on the political status of Puerto Rico. Consequently, the turn out of voters on the Island often reaches seventy-five percent.
On the Mainland, however, the attitude is more apathetic. Several factors like language, socio-economic groups, issues, and lack of effectively organized political machinery, have a great influence on this attitude. However, in older communities and in areas where the community leaders make evident the polical effectiveness of block voting the attitude changes as well. As the Puerto Rican community becomes more informed, political activity grows. Additional factors like the advent of bilingual programs, the stable growth of certain kind of religious institutions, and the election of politically effective officials make it easier and rewarding to participate in the political process of the Mainland.
Student Activities
Useful resources:
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1. Fernández-Méndez, Eugenio,
Portrait of a Society: A Book of Readings on
Puerto Rican Society
, Rio Piedras, University of Puerto Rico Press, 1956.
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2. Wells, Henry K.,
The Modernization of Puerto Rico,
Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press, 1969.
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3.
Census of Population, Puerto Rico, General Social and Economic Characteristics
, Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 1972.
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4. Office of the Registrar, New Haven, Connecticut.
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1. Find out the number of Puerto Ricans in New Haven.
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2. Find out the number of registered voters.
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3. Find out wards with large population of Puerto Ricans.
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4. Find out wards with Puerto Rican aldermen.
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5. Invite alderman to your classroom.
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6. Discuss the importance of political strength and how the electoral process helps.
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7. Compare the population growth to the registered voters growth.
