Puerto Rican Americans

Lourdes Torres

As of 2003, there were more Puerto Ricans living in the United States than on the island of Puerto Rico—3.8 million on the mainland and 3.6 million in Puerto Rico—creating an unusual condition where the diaspora is greater than the country of origin's population. In addition, Puerto Ricans often migrate back and forth between the island and the mainland, giving them a foot in both places. This “divided nation” situation has been produced by the status of Puerto Rico as a “commonwealth,” with its residents sharing some—but not all—of the benefits of U.S. citizens and its homeland economy dependent on the United States. The sense of nationalism is strong among Puerto Ricans living in the United States. One sign of this is the fact that few Puerto Ricans living in the United States would refer to themselves as Puerto Rican Americans. Most would simply identify as Puerto Rican or Boricua, ...

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