After a study of Latinx stereotypes in film, as well as an exploration into the historical relationship between Puerto Rico and New York City, students are now better prepared to draw connections between cinematic portrayals and the real-world challenges faced by Puerto Ricans. Overall, this unit has empowered students with the necessary skills and content knowledge to unravel the relationship between the mainland United States and Puerto Rico. This unit focuses on New York City in the 1950s, as it is a prime example of this complex intersection between historical context and cinematic portrayals. This era witnessed a substantial influx of Puerto Ricans into the city. The implications of this demographic shift are further complicated when viewed through the lens of the cinematic world.
During the early 1950s, the film industry was filled with damaging stereotypes that neglected to respect or reflect the actual culture of the Latinx community. A consistent pattern emerged from producers and directors to viewers where Latinx characters were reduced to simplified, stereotypical depictions. For a large portion of the audience, these film representations set the standard for understanding the behavior and culture of this newly arrived-community. As Puerto Ricans settled in New York City, preconceived notions influenced by these negative cinematic portrayals frequently greeted their arrival. Over time, these misrepresentations influenced societal perceptions, molding and distorting how the broader community understood the Latinx population. In sum, the enduring presence of Latinx stereotypes in cinema had a profound and lasting impact on societal views of this community, further complicating the integration process for Puerto Ricans in New York City and beyond.
Understanding the complex relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico unveils critical insights into the factors that have shaped the representation of Latinxs in the media. Analyzing film representations provides a window into the intricate dynamics of power, colonization, and cultural influences that underlie the portrayal of this community in film.
Moreover, delving into the historical ties between the United States and Puerto Rico allows students to gain the necessary knowledge to reflect on the profound impact of colonialism and imperialism on the island and its people in the classroom. By immersing themselves in this historical backdrop, students will develop a strong perspective that empowers them to evaluate and challenge stereotypes perpetuated in the media critically.
After gaining foundational knowledge, students can view the film West Side Story as a captivating case study. Students will gain a deeper understanding of Puerto Rican history while watching and will be able to identify scenes that reflect the three common stereotypes. Analyzing the movie will allow them to identify and discuss the stereotypes associated with Puerto Ricans portrayed within its narrative. Also, students can contextualize the broader history of Puerto Ricans in New York City, their migration experiences, and their enduring struggle to preserve their rich cultural identity.
By the end of the unit, students will equip themselves with the tools to critically engage with media representation, dismantle harmful stereotypes, and foster a more realistic and inclusive understanding of the Puerto Rican and Latinx populations in the United States. By exploring the historical and cultural context, students can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of representation in film and its far-reaching implications in our diverse society.
Concepts Educators Can Explore:
After this unit, students have strengthened their understanding of the relationship between the film West Side Story and historiography. Students will develop a better understanding of the harm of the film's portrayals once they acquire knowledge of the complicated history of the United States relations with Puerto Rico. While investigating this history, students now have the skills needed to uncover the socio-political circumstances that allowed such stereotypes to persist over time. This understanding aids in grasping the film's role in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and shaping public perceptions of the Puerto Rican community.
Once students have mastered class concepts, it is crucial to explore the nuanced history of the relationship between the United States and the island of Puerto Rico to comprehend the harm the film's portrayal has caused fully. This historical context sheds light on the socio-political factors that influenced the media's representation of Puerto Ricans and how these stereotypes persisted. By delving into this history, students will gain a more comprehensive understanding of the film's impact on perpetuating harmful stereotypes and shaping public perceptions of the Puerto Rican community.
The complex relationship between the continental United States and Puerto Rico has existed since the late 19th century. Historically, Puerto Rico has undergone a significant transformation, transitioning from what can be described as a "classic colony," where the United States engaged in extensive resource extraction and systematic cultural imperialism, to a territory entirely financially dependent on the mainland. This exploitation has taken various forms, with mainland cooperation and government officials extracting resources, finances, and even people from the island to maximize their profits. The result of such actions has left Puerto Rico in a state of poverty that is notably worse than that of the weakest state on the mainland. This disparity is reflected in distressing statistics, with the island experiencing the highest rates of homicide, drug addiction, and AIDS in the entire United States.
To fully grasp the implications of these realities, it is essential to delve into the historical context and understand the systematic extraction that has shaped Puerto Rico's trajectory. This historical background sheds light on the deep-rooted issues that have affected the island and its people over time. By comprehending the historical context, we can better understand the present dynamics of the relationship between Puerto Rico and the mainland. Through this lens, students will recognize the situation's complexities and explore potential avenues for addressing the unsatisfactory state of affairs that both parties acknowledge.
As a victim of a complex history of colonialism and economic exploitation, Puerto Rico's relationship with the continental United States has been shaped by profound challenges and disparities. This section will further explore the deep-rooted consequences of colonization, economic exploitation, and media misrepresentation that continue to shape the island's economic inequality struggles and its quest for a more equitable future. The oppression of the Puerto Rican people continues to affect the community on the island negatively. Furthermore, poverty, directly related to U.S. economic policy on the island, has become a chronic issue, exacerbating the existing inequalities and hardships. One result is the alarming mental disease rate among Puerto Rico's population. Overall, people on the island are three times as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses compared to the national mean. These grim statistics illustrate Puerto Rico's challenges, many of which stem from its colonial relationship with the United States and the subsequent economic policies that have governed the island's development.
Puerto Rico's history is deeply rooted in colonialism, having endured centuries of Spanish rule before becoming a territory under the influence of the United States. For centuries, Puerto Rico served as a “classic colony” for Spain, contributing resources, land, and people for the betterment of the empire. The Spanish colonial period profoundly shaped Puerto Rico's culture, language, and traditions. Overall, Spanish influences resulted in a rich and diverse cultural heritage that still endures. However, the island's inhabitants faced the oppressive weight of Spanish colonial rule, with their lives and resources serving the interests of the distant crown. However, in the 19th century, due to the end of The Spanish-American War of 1898, Puerto Rico was taken over by the United States. Initially, many island inhabitants were pleased with the arrival of America. However, the initial feeling would soon disappear as the island became subject to complete U.S. control and administration.
This change in rulership had implications for Puerto Rico's cultural identity and political status. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Ricans gained American citizenship in 1917, granting them rights and privileges to be part of the nation without a voting member in Congress. This unique status created a truly unclear identity. Puerto Ricans were naturalized citizens of the United States but were denied the same rights to representation and voting as people who lived on the mainland.
Puerto Rico's connection to the rest of the country has evolved into a complicated one over time. Puerto Ricans still debate whether to seek statehood or independence regarding their political standing. The continuous struggle for independence has exposed Puerto Rico's complicated connection with the United States government and its effects on the island's political and cultural identity to the nation's media.
Over the years, mainland governments and corporations have taken resources, money, and people from Puerto Rico to increase their profits, leaving the island in a far worse state of poverty than the poorest state in the union. The island's poverty, unemployment, and economic inequality directly result from this economic exploitation. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, popularly known as the Jones Act, was passed by Congress in 1920 and had an even more significant effect on Puerto Rico's economy. Due to this legislation, all trade between the island and any other nation had to transit via American ports and be carried out by ships flying the American flag. As a direct result, island residents must pay significantly higher prices for imported goods, increasing Puerto Ricans' economic challenges. Lobbying organizations representing the marine industry have hindered efforts to change the Jones Act, adding to the complexities of the relationship between Puerto Rico and the continental United States.
Throughout its history, Puerto Rico has experienced various waves of migration to the mainland United States, driven by economic opportunities and seeking better living conditions. However, the portrayal of Puerto Ricans in multiple films as violent foreign refugees intent on infesting American territory perpetuates harmful stereotypes. As money leaves the island and is never really invested back, Puerto Ricans are responsible for paying for Social Security and Medicare. As the island struggles with its reliance on the continental United States, Puerto Rico still faces significant economic challenges. The aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 attracted attention to the island's susceptibility to natural disasters and the federal government's shoddy reaction and aid during such emergencies.
Overall, a long history of colonialism, economic exploitation, and harmful stereotypes reinforced by media representation has shaped the relationship between the continental United States and Puerto Rico. The national media coverage the island continues to receive shows the United States that acquiring a colony is much easier than providing for one. The exploration of the convoluted relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States, combined with a critical analysis of West Side Story's representation of Puerto Ricans, has offered students valuable insights into media's significant role in shaping public perception. They have comprehensively understood how history, politics, and media interplay to create narratives perpetuating harmful stereotypes or promoting genuine representation. This understanding is vital to fostering media literacy that aligns more closely with historical truths and experiences.
Lesson Plan 2: The Complex Relationship: Exploring Puerto Rico's Statehood Debate
In this lesson, students will explore the historical and current complexities surrounding Puerto Rico's connection with the United States, focusing on the statehood debate. The study begins with a warm-up activity asking students to share their prior knowledge regarding the argument for statehood. After working individually and talking in pairs, the teacher will ask each group to share. During this time, the teacher will correct misconceptions about Puerto Rico's relationship with the US. After the warm-up discussion, students will receive two texts: "Puerto Rico: A Brief History" and "Why Puerto Rico has Debated U.S. Statehood." The class will be divided into two groups, one reading "Puerto Rico: A Brief History" and the other reading "Why Puerto Rico has Debated U.S. Statehood." After individually reading their respective texts, students will partner with someone who has read the other source. Once in pairs, students will summarize their readings and share three key points that stood out.
After a class discussion based on the readings, students are divided into smaller groups, each assigned to focus on different aspects of the statehood debate, such as economic implications, political status, cultural identity, and social consequences. Within their groups, students conduct further research using a school-issued database. Groups will be tasked with finding two sources. The first source must be a “pro” statehood article or graph, while the second can be a “con” article or chart. This activity will allow each student to evaluate multiple perspectives critically.
The groups share the research results with the class, emphasizing significant findings and explaining why some think Puerto Rico's statehood is problematic. The class will then be divided into teams representing "pro-statehood" and "anti-statehood" viewpoints for a formal discussion on Puerto Rico's statehood following this activity. Students can decide which side to support based on their research and participate in a formal debate, presenting arguments and supporting their claims. After a discussion in class based on the readings, students are split into smaller groups of three to four students, with each group being given the task of focusing on a different component of the statehood argument, such as its economic ramifications, political standing, cultural implications, and social repercussions. Intending to locate two sources—a "pro" statehood article or graph as the first source and a "con" statehood article or graph as the second source—students undertake additional research within their groups utilizing a school-issued database. Overall, this activity allows each student to evaluate multiple perspectives critically.
To expand their understanding and engage in thoughtful discourse, students will use an online discussion board to share their perspectives on the Puerto Rican statehood question. Each student must post their position, provide research evidence, and constructively comment on the posts of at least two other students to address opposing viewpoints and promote civil debate. Each group will also collaboratively write a blog post summarizing their findings, and they will be required to comment on the blog post of another group, opening up the possibility for intergroup communication and the discussion of different viewpoints. This all-encompassing strategy promotes in-depth examination and civil discourse that improves students' capacity to consider multiple points of view about Puerto Rico's statehood.
Overall, this lesson plan allows students to deeply explore Puerto Rico's complex relationship with the United States, specifically focusing on the statehood debate. Students develop critical thinking skills by engaging in research, arguments, and online discussions, expanding their understanding of diverse perspectives, and fostering respectful dialogue on this intricate issue. This approach challenges students to become informed citizens, better equipped to recognize the complexities of real-world challenges and contribute to impactful discussions on Puerto Rico's future.