Puerto Rico, a commonwealth, an island with not a lot of wealth and not quite a nation. The place where you vacation, a tropical destination, to escape your harsh reality. But, the reality is, the island has been under attack since its inception. Nevertheless, the most important symbol that unites her children and grandchildren, both on the island and in the diaspora, is La Bandera de Boricua, the Puerto Rican flag. The Flag portrays itself as a “North Star” to all Puerto Ricans; it is a light in the darkness of discrimination. The Flag beckons its audience by exploiting the historical pathos connected to it and establishing the commonplace of a home away from home.
The History of Puerto Rico
- Pedro Albizu Campos and nationalist figures
- Discrimination and abuse of power
- Combining previous sentiments to highlight flag’s importance
The Diaspora
- Puerto Rican Parade in NYC on 5th Avenue
- Commonplace: houses with flags, Yankees hats, domino games
- Flag stands for family
Once a friend made a comment about the Puerto Rican flag hanging in my dorm. She asked, “why don’t you just have an American flag, since Puerto Rico is a part of the United States?” I asked her which of the 50 stars on the flag stand for my beloved island. The simple answer: none. We made our own flag with our own star. Through the shining light of emotional connection and commonplaces, the Puerto Rican flag leads the weary Boricua home.