Blessed Quote by Oscar Lopez Rivera
“I think that there are times when Puertoricans think, "Oh, we are blessed with the relationship with the U.S." But the end result will not be that. If Puerto Rico becomes similar to Hawaii - well, the Hawaiian Native population is about 9 percent. And if we go to the prisons, the overwhelming majority of the prisoners are the Natives. So I can anticipate that Puerto Ricans will not be better off by the annexation of the U.S. of Puerto Rico. I also know for a fact that once any nation or any people lose their identity, their language, their lifestyles, that they are a little dehumanized.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Puerto Rican activist interview, 2015
Annexation may erode cultural identity and lead to social inequities for Puerto Ricans.
In simple terms: Losing identity harms people.
Key Takeaway
Protect cultural heritage.
Themes
identity
colonialism
social justice
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- community organizing
- education
- media coverage
Key Concepts
cultural erasure
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can Puerto Rico retain identity after political change?
- What policies protect minority rights?
A Different Perspective
Benefits may not reach all citizens.
![“I am willing to bet that there are some Puerto Ricans who don’t know about [their status].” quote by Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e1a/sonia-sotomayor-1504_knows_i-am-willing-to-bet-that-there-are-some_962988.jpg)
