My Dad, Benigno Echevarria Rodriguez, also known as Benny, is a funny character. Raised in the old ways, with old fashioned values, he still finds a way to find humor and keep things up to date.
I decided to come visit my Dad in Puerto Rico and have him meet my Fiancé, Israel Lopez. They both hit it off magnificently since they are both jokers. Dad immediately declared that Israel is Morenito. In this sense, he was simply stating that he liked him.
Now the word moreno, is the Spanish word for dark skinned. Israel is not dark skinned, this is not the point. My Dad uses it in a totally different way. He uses it if you are misbehaving, dark skinned, of questionable character or taste, you could be a good person or involved in an illegal or immoral activity. He laughs it off but those that know him know that there is a deep rooted reason for his use of this word. My Dad is racist.
It doesn't matter that Grandpa Hipolito, his father, was high yellow black. Dad is jabao himself and has always made comments when darkies are around. Benny has a bad habit of calling most people here on the island moreno; they assure me they don't mind when I scold him, but I still worry that someone will take offense and hurt him. You see, Daddy is 81 years old and frail.
Being in his 80's didn't stop him from opening another Zapateria and re-establishing himself in his old profession. Don't put your nose up, my Dad raised 15 kids (6 Antonia's, 4 Mery's and 5 His) repairing shoes. He never stopped working. He puts me and many others to shame.
Getting back to Benny's "moreno" ways. When Israel informed him that I had stated I would be getting a life insurance policy out on him, since he is so accident prone, Daddy simply looked at him and stated "make sure you also name me as a beneficiary." I almost fell out of my chair laughing! This was on the first day that they met!
I have no idea how my Dad did not disown me when I married my children's father who happened to be both Black and Cuban. That is what you call a double no-no in Benny's world. But I am his only daughter and Daddy is one of those rare men that love daughters.
And finally with that in mind, Dad used his moreno charms and made me an offer I could not refuse and I am now relocating to Puerto Rico. It seems to me that all is falling into place. I have been advocating Statehood for my island for 2 years now, my genealogy work is mostly here and which better place to take care of business than in the heart of the matter? After almost 50 years, I am back in Puerto Rico. I am finally home.
moreno(a) = dark skinned
zapateria - Shoe Repair Shop
darkies = slang for colored.
high yellow black = a black person that has white blood and therefore light skinned black.
jabao = a black person so light skinned that you can't tell they are black.
Antonia = 1st Wife
Mery = 2nd Wife
Showing posts with label Genealogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Genealogy. Show all posts
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Puerto Rico - An American State 113 Years In The Making; Part III
When I started this undertaking, of clarifying Puerto Rico's and its peoples' political status, I had no idea that it would be such an extensive project. I did not jump into this project on a whim. I have been pondering this subject for years. I am proud and humbled by the new found information I have uncovered; and a little disappointed at myself for not digging deeper into my Puerto Rican heritage sooner. As a Genealogist, specializing in Puerto Rican Genealogy for the past 13 years, that should have been my first endeavour.
Well, so far, I've written a summarized version of pre- and post-Columbian history of Puerto Rico. I gave you a glimpse into Puerto Rico's attempts to free itself from Spain's domination and gain independence. And a taste of what Puerto Rico has contributed militarily in the early stages and thereafter, of a newly created Nation called the United States of America; keep in mind, we haven't yet discussed in depth Puerto Rico's role in the Cuban Independence Movement. And now we will get down to the nitty gritty of some major impact Puerto Rican-US policies, terrorist plots and Puerto Rico's commingled history with Cuba.
The Foraker Act of 1900, an act passed by the U.S. Senate, gave Puerto Rico a civilian popular government including a popularly elected House of Representatives. It also allowed a judicial system following the American legal system that includes both State and Federal courts; establishing within that system a Puerto Rico Supreme Court, a United States District Court and a non-voting member of Congress, by the title of "Resident Commissioner". In addition, this Act extended all U.S. laws "not locally inapplicable" to Puerto Rico, specifying specific exemption from U.S. Internal Revenue laws.
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt recommended that Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens. In 1917, "Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens" via the Jones-Shafroth Act, signed by President Woodrow Wilson. The same Act also provided for a popularly elected Senate to complete a bicameral Legislative Assembly, a bill of rights and authorized the election of the Resident Commissioner to a four-year term.
Translation? A mini-U.S. government was unilaterally formed on the island of Puerto Rico.
More than a century later, this does not seem like such a negative occurrence, after all, from the American point of view, Puerto Rico at this time in history was only beginning to see itself as a Nation, as a separate entity from the World's Super Powers; and although wanting very much to become self reliant, economically, did not have the resources to accomplish that goal. But to a contemporary Puerto Rico, who had only less than a decade earlier gained its independence from Spain, this American government, imposed upon it, without it's consent or participation, was devastating to the morale of it's people. Most of the population accepted their fate in accordance with the humility that is still very much a common characteristic among modern Puerto Ricans; most but not all.
Natural disasters and the Great Depression impoverished the island during the first few decades under U.S. rule. Tensions ran high for both sides for the next 50 years. On March 21, 1937, a march was organized in the southern city of Ponce by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, lead by Pedro Albizu Campos. The march turned tragic when the Insular Police (comparable to the National Guard) opened fire on the unarmed civilians. Nineteen were killed and over 200 badly wounded. Most shot in the back while trying to run away from the police. This incident came to be known as the Ponce Massacre. Thirteen and a half years later, on October 30, 1950, Pedro Albizu Campos and other nationalists lead a 3 day revolt against the United States. The most notable were in the towns of Jayuya and Utuado. These became known as the Jayuya Uprising and the Utuado Massacre. These were by no means the only Uprisings or Massacres occurring on the island; but were the most prominent and most publicized.
Meanwhile, during these turmoil filled years, Puerto Rican politicians like Luis Munoz Marin, member of the Popular Democratic Party, championed a compromise with President Truman to appoint, in 1946, the first Puerto Rican born Governor Jesus T. Pinero. A year later, in 1947, the Puerto Rican people, won the right to democratically elect their own Governor. Luis Munoz Marin, ran a successful campaign, and became Puerto Rico's first democratically elected Governor, on January 2, 1949; he was immensely popular for previous public works, including securing the inclusion of Puerto Rico in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program, thus, maintaining his Governorship for the next 16 years.
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, whom interpreted the U.S. actions as the, once again, colonization of Puerto Rico; decided to gain publicity to their cause by committing several terrorist acts, ordered by Pedro Albizu Campos while incarcerated in prison, upon the Continental United States. One of which was the attempted assassination of President Harry S. Truman, in his home, by Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo, on November, 01, 1950. Another well documented case was that of Dolores "Lolita" Lebron Sotomayor, who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives on March, 01, 1954; by opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle while the House was in full session.
Here lies the reason why I have said time and time again, since our involvement in Afghanistan, send an Elite Force of Puerto Ricans and our Bin Laden problems will be over!!!
Now, to our Cuban Connection!
Many Puerto Ricans sympathized with Cuba's plight in that it was so fundamentally tied to their own. I could only speculate that our brave Puerto Rican men believed that helping Cuba free itself from Spain would cause a domino effect and facilitate Puerto Rico's independence. A very well known saying among our Hispanic community is "Cuba y Puerto Rico, de un pajaro, las dos alas"; translated, "Cuba and Puerto Rico, from a bird, it's wings". Meaning, at some point in time, Cuba and Puerto Rico were so closely related by idealogy, customs, heritage and struggle that we were blood brothers.
Among the illustrious group of Puerto Rican men that were involved in Cuba's Independence from Spain were:
It is rumored that people of the northeastern province of Oriente, Cuba, have a peculiar dialect, idiosyncrasies and other mannerisms that are not common in any other part of the island. I like to think that our ancestral Puerto Rican warrior brothers, after accomplishing their mission, decided to take a well deserved vacation and rested in Oriente for a while.
Well, so far, I've written a summarized version of pre- and post-Columbian history of Puerto Rico. I gave you a glimpse into Puerto Rico's attempts to free itself from Spain's domination and gain independence. And a taste of what Puerto Rico has contributed militarily in the early stages and thereafter, of a newly created Nation called the United States of America; keep in mind, we haven't yet discussed in depth Puerto Rico's role in the Cuban Independence Movement. And now we will get down to the nitty gritty of some major impact Puerto Rican-US policies, terrorist plots and Puerto Rico's commingled history with Cuba.
The Foraker Act of 1900, an act passed by the U.S. Senate, gave Puerto Rico a civilian popular government including a popularly elected House of Representatives. It also allowed a judicial system following the American legal system that includes both State and Federal courts; establishing within that system a Puerto Rico Supreme Court, a United States District Court and a non-voting member of Congress, by the title of "Resident Commissioner". In addition, this Act extended all U.S. laws "not locally inapplicable" to Puerto Rico, specifying specific exemption from U.S. Internal Revenue laws.
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt recommended that Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens. In 1917, "Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens" via the Jones-Shafroth Act, signed by President Woodrow Wilson. The same Act also provided for a popularly elected Senate to complete a bicameral Legislative Assembly, a bill of rights and authorized the election of the Resident Commissioner to a four-year term.
Translation? A mini-U.S. government was unilaterally formed on the island of Puerto Rico.
More than a century later, this does not seem like such a negative occurrence, after all, from the American point of view, Puerto Rico at this time in history was only beginning to see itself as a Nation, as a separate entity from the World's Super Powers; and although wanting very much to become self reliant, economically, did not have the resources to accomplish that goal. But to a contemporary Puerto Rico, who had only less than a decade earlier gained its independence from Spain, this American government, imposed upon it, without it's consent or participation, was devastating to the morale of it's people. Most of the population accepted their fate in accordance with the humility that is still very much a common characteristic among modern Puerto Ricans; most but not all.
Natural disasters and the Great Depression impoverished the island during the first few decades under U.S. rule. Tensions ran high for both sides for the next 50 years. On March 21, 1937, a march was organized in the southern city of Ponce by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, lead by Pedro Albizu Campos. The march turned tragic when the Insular Police (comparable to the National Guard) opened fire on the unarmed civilians. Nineteen were killed and over 200 badly wounded. Most shot in the back while trying to run away from the police. This incident came to be known as the Ponce Massacre. Thirteen and a half years later, on October 30, 1950, Pedro Albizu Campos and other nationalists lead a 3 day revolt against the United States. The most notable were in the towns of Jayuya and Utuado. These became known as the Jayuya Uprising and the Utuado Massacre. These were by no means the only Uprisings or Massacres occurring on the island; but were the most prominent and most publicized.
Meanwhile, during these turmoil filled years, Puerto Rican politicians like Luis Munoz Marin, member of the Popular Democratic Party, championed a compromise with President Truman to appoint, in 1946, the first Puerto Rican born Governor Jesus T. Pinero. A year later, in 1947, the Puerto Rican people, won the right to democratically elect their own Governor. Luis Munoz Marin, ran a successful campaign, and became Puerto Rico's first democratically elected Governor, on January 2, 1949; he was immensely popular for previous public works, including securing the inclusion of Puerto Rico in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program, thus, maintaining his Governorship for the next 16 years.
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, whom interpreted the U.S. actions as the, once again, colonization of Puerto Rico; decided to gain publicity to their cause by committing several terrorist acts, ordered by Pedro Albizu Campos while incarcerated in prison, upon the Continental United States. One of which was the attempted assassination of President Harry S. Truman, in his home, by Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo, on November, 01, 1950. Another well documented case was that of Dolores "Lolita" Lebron Sotomayor, who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives on March, 01, 1954; by opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle while the House was in full session.
Here lies the reason why I have said time and time again, since our involvement in Afghanistan, send an Elite Force of Puerto Ricans and our Bin Laden problems will be over!!!
Now, to our Cuban Connection!
Many Puerto Ricans sympathized with Cuba's plight in that it was so fundamentally tied to their own. I could only speculate that our brave Puerto Rican men believed that helping Cuba free itself from Spain would cause a domino effect and facilitate Puerto Rico's independence. A very well known saying among our Hispanic community is "Cuba y Puerto Rico, de un pajaro, las dos alas"; translated, "Cuba and Puerto Rico, from a bird, it's wings". Meaning, at some point in time, Cuba and Puerto Rico were so closely related by idealogy, customs, heritage and struggle that we were blood brothers.
Among the illustrious group of Puerto Rican men that were involved in Cuba's Independence from Spain were:
- Juan Riuz Rivera, Commander in Chief, Cuban Liberation Army, he fought in the "Grito de Lares" revolt, under the command of Mathias Brugman. He also fought in Cuba's Ten Year War (1868-1878).
- Jose Semidei Rodriguez, Brigadier General, Cuban Liberation Army. He was involved in Cuba's Ten Year War (1868-1878), after Cuba gained its independence he continued to serve in that country as a diplomat.
- Francisco Gonzalo Marin, Lieutenant, Cuban Liberation Army, he was so inspired by the Cuban cause that he adapted the Cuban Flag by introverting its colors and is credited with designing the Puerto Rican flag; he was a poet and journalist who fought alongside Jose Marti.
It is rumored that people of the northeastern province of Oriente, Cuba, have a peculiar dialect, idiosyncrasies and other mannerisms that are not common in any other part of the island. I like to think that our ancestral Puerto Rican warrior brothers, after accomplishing their mission, decided to take a well deserved vacation and rested in Oriente for a while.
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