A BLACK GIRL IN BORICUA SPACES: WHY UNITY MATTERS

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a deep love for Puerto Rican culture. It’s been a part of my life for over three decades—woven into my experiences, my relationships, and my understanding of identity. But as much as I celebrate the beauty of this culture, I can’t ignore the reality that there’s a painful divide between Black people and Puerto Ricans—one that was deliberately created by colonialism, slavery, and systemic oppression. And I believe it’s time to heal that divide.

Growing up, I saw the unspoken tension. I saw how anti-Blackness exists in Puerto Rican communities, how Black Americans sometimes view Puerto Ricans as separate, and how the shared history of oppression we both experienced has been buried beneath generations of misinformation. But when you dig deeper, you realize—we are one.

Puerto Ricans have African roots that run deep, yet so many have been conditioned to distance themselves from Blackness. Black Americans have been pitted against Puerto Ricans, especially in places like New York, Chicago, and Miami, where both communities have struggled for resources and respect. This was never by accident—it was by design. White supremacy has always thrived on keeping us divided. Because together? We’re powerful.

The more I learn, the more I see how much our histories overlap. Enslaved Africans and Indigenous Taínos fought together against colonial rule. Afro-Boricuas have been erased from history, despite being a major part of the island’s culture and resilience. And in the U.S., Puerto Ricans and Black Americans have fought side by side in civil rights movements, demanding justice and equality.

So why are we still so disconnected? And more importantly, how do we fix it?

I don’t have all the answers. I’m still learning. But I know that unity is the key to breaking free from the generational cycles of oppression we’ve been forced into. I want to be part of the movement that brings Black people and Puerto Ricans together—not just in words, but in action. That means educating myself, having real conversations, and creating spaces where we can reclaim our shared history and build something stronger for the future.

This is just the beginning of my journey. If you feel this too—if you’ve seen the divide and want to be part of the healing—let’s talk, learn, and grow together. Because the truth is, we are family. And it’s time we start acting like it.