Puerto Rico's Independence Day celebrated at Eastern

By: Jessica Perillo

Posted: 9/27/06

"It's Independence Day!" shouted one of Darrel Enck-Wanzer's students on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's lecture and documentary celebrated the day 138 years ago that Puerto Rico declared its independence from Spain. The presentation was part of Latino Heritage Month.

"It's the first day that Puerto Rico stood up and said we demand our independence and we're gonna do whatever it takes to fight for it," said Enck-Wanzer, communication studies professor.

El Grito de Lares (translated as the cry of Lares), celebrated on Sept. 23, is known as Puerto Rican Independence Day both on the island and in the United States.

On that day in 1868, in a town called Lares, a small group of men declared the island Puerto Rico an independent republic in an attempt to separate from Spanish rule.

Today, Puerto Rico is still not its own country. Puerto Rico is known as a commonwealth under the United States, Enck-Wanzer explained.

On Eastern's campus 237 students are Latino. Juanita Elias, Retention and Recruitment Coordinator for minority affairs, said there is no breakdown of where each Latino student is from.

"I've only met probably a half-dozen (Puerto Rican students)," Enck-Wanzer said.

The documentary was called, "Yo Soy Boricua, Pa' Que Tu Lo Sepas!" This translates as "I'm Boricua, Just So You Know!" in English.

The film was produced by actor Rosie Perez, a Puerto Rican-American. The movie demonstrates the pride of Puerto Ricans, as well as the confusion Americans have about her culture.

"Puerto Ricans do not want to lose their identity," Perez said in the film, explaining the lack of knowledge Americans have about Puerto Rico.

Enck-Wanzer said Puerto Rican history is very scarce in America. In the past, education of Puerto Rican culture barley existed.

"…and sadly we still don't (learn about Puerto Rico). I mean, I wasn't taught about Puerto Rico in school until… well ever," said Enck-Wanzer who is of Puerto Rican descent.

The documentary explained dozens of important events in Puerto Rican history, as well as many aspects of Puerto Rican culture that are typically not brought into American education.

"There are more Puerto Ricans in America now then there are on the island," Enck-Wanzer said.

In the 1950s, a large group of Puerto Ricans migrated to New York. They called themselves Nuyoricans. But even in the 1950s, some Americans were not aware of Puerto Rico's existence.

"I grew up in the fifties in New Jersey and I'd say the first knowledge of Puerto Ricans I had was 'West Side story'," said Betty Smith, department of geology and geography.

For students who want to learn more about Puerto Rican culture and migration to the United States, Enck-Wanzer suggested two books. "Harvest of Empire", by Juan Gonzales has a very good history of all Latinos in America, he said. More specific to Puerto Ricans is a book called, "The Puerto Rican Nation on the Move," by Jorge Duany.