B1 Blog
How the US got Puerto Rico – August 23rd
Colonialism. You may have heard it but did you understand the full scope of the definition? “History is often written on the side of victors.” As we become mindful of our consumption we begin to question what we have been taught. Is colonialism really what’s best for developing states or is it time for these super powers to let go and have these territories govern themselves?
Colonialism is defined as “a practice in which one state or group exerts control over another territory and its inhabitants, characterized by political dominance, occupation by settlers, and economic exploitation.”1 Puerto Ricans not having voting representation in Congress, that’s a check on political dominance. Spaniards staying on the island to exploit the gold checks the box on occupation by settlers. Economic exploitation is seen today as much of Puerto Rico relies on US exports thanks to the Jones Act.
Puerto Rico has endured two waves of colonization. First by the Spaniard after the discovery of the island by Christopher Columbus. Then Spain relinquished control of the island to the US following the Spanish-American War. Since 1493, the people of Puerto Rico have had someone else dictating their every move and not leaving any space for autonomy.
Why am I talking about colonialism when I’m raising funds and trying to provide renewable energy sources to the island? Because you can’t just jump into something and not know the history or the people you are trying to help. If you have stopped by our table you have probably heard me say that we are the sidekicks in this. I have no intention of going to the island with a savior complex or expecting an immediate change from the donations we send. I have friends that have left the island because it’s too expensive or there are no jobs. They had to make the hard decision to move to do what they think is best for themselves. Yes, people move for a job all the time, but the difference here is that our government and policies did not push all the jobs away through the span of decades. This process of control has been ongoing for years. Having not just a historical understanding but also a personal one makes this work even more meaningful.
Intro – August 23rd
With the start of June in Puerto Rico comes the start of hurricane season for the island. Year after year the natives have a recurring worry; will their energy grid make it through this season? You see it from social media to news reports of the island losing power seemingly randomly.
This is not the only struggle that Boricuas have with living on the island. From the start of the United States capturing the island from the Spaniards to the struggle for energy independence, the people of the island have no shortage of interaction with colonialism and its effects. August 2025 brought Hurricane Erin to the island and without even reaching the mainland, the effects were felt.
How exactly does colonialism tie into the fight for energy independence and a more independent island? We’ll dive into this topic and others as we talk about the economics, independence, and of course, energy from the island of Puerto Rico.
