A Battle for Cultural Survival 

Lizmarie Delacruz   

Department of English, The City College of New York   

Writing for the Social Sciences (ENGL 2100)   

 Professor Crystal Rodwell

March 16, 2025

Americanization refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt American culture. This can be through language, values, traditions, or societal norms. This phenomenon often occurs through influences, such as social media exposure, education, or through political relationships. For Puerto Ricans, Americanization is a unique and complex experience. This shift is particularly complex due to the island’s political status as a U.S. territory, creating a unique connection of wanting to preserve culture yet ultimately being pushed into more american ways due to being considered U.S. territory. Coming from a Dominican background, I am limited in information about Puerto Rican culture. From my perspective when Puerto Rican culture was talked about in highschool there was always a very oppressed by not being able to express there culture fully. Due to the forced adoption of American culture, stores or super heroes like ”La Borinqueña” are praised by showing Puerto rican culture in ways the media hasn’t been able to. I am very interested to know how Americanization of Puerto Rican people has influenced identity by challenging and forcing them to integrate while preserving Puerto Rican heritage, the impact of tourists on their community, and the impact of skin color. 

I met Gabriela Martinez; she gave me consent to share her identity. She is an 18-year-old light skinned Puerto Rican woman who often wears items which represent her island. She often talks about how Puerto Rico is a beautiful island which, by going back in history, was colonized by the United States. Gabriela knows Spanish and English as thats the island’s official language. She is constantly stereotyped with not knowing Spanish due to the idea that Puerto Rican children are too Americanized to know spanish. Gabriela uses Spanglish at times which is a unique blend of English and Spanish showing American cultures impact on the island. With Bad Bunny’s new Album relating to so many Puerto Rican viewers, I am very interested in knowing how Americanization has impacted Gabriela as well as the Puerto Rican people. To create a comfortable space for Gabriela i will conduct the interview within the city college of new york library on the 3rd floor. This quiet space allows for less distraction and if needed has access to a bathroom and allows her to leave if the conversation becomes too personal. We will have access to a couch which leans into making a comfortable space for discussion. I hope that by showing how islands such as Puerto Rico are damaged by colonization, it sheds light and awareness to those who are unaware of this generational damage. 

Gabriela Martinez explains how the people of Puerto Rico are challenged to preserve their cultural heritage while being forced to integrate into American society. Gabriela highlights this struggle, as she recalls her parents insisting to express herself as a Puerto Rican woman at least within their household. The idea of Gabriela being in the United states yet holding on to her Puerto Rican identity has really shaped who she is. Gabriela explains, “Even though we’re here, they still want us to be true to who we really are and that is not American.” The effort to deny americanization and protect traditions, language, and identity is undeniable. However there are many lifestyle changes where sadly conforming is needed to survive or to communicate with the community around them. Gabriela shares her experience as a student placed in an ESL program. She talks about how hard it was not knowing the language and communicating with others and how, initially she resisted the English language, stating, “I didn’t understand no English and… I don’t want your English.” This resistance shows the conflict of living in a different culture and having to adopt something so important such as language and staying true to her Puerto rican side. The evolution of this idea of not wanting anything to do with the English language to now seeing it as a necessity for survival is a huge change. Gabriela throughout the interview shows an immense sense of pride showing how adjusting to a place you’re residing in does not take away your heritage or what you connect more with. Ultimately, Puerto Ricans like  Gabriela navigate a dual identity, embracing aspects of American life while holding firmly to their heritage. 

Tourism, although seeming small, plays a huge role in how Gabriela sees culture and Puerto Rican communities today. It has an influence in language, economy, and even cultural dynamics. With tourism on the rise in Puerto Rico becoming more tourist-center one may be scared of americanization especially from American tourists which are known most to going to this tropical destination. Gabriela Martinez calls attention to tourism, explaining, “Because of the state that Puerto Rico is in after hurricanes and hurricanes and hurricanes, a lot of Puerto Rico is starting to be more tourist-centered. So obviously, what do tourists pick? Not Spanish, English.” The commonality of the English language in a Spanish speaking country has pressured locals to adapt. As the island prioritizes English and not its native language Spanish they feed misconceptions that Puerto Ricans are losing their native tongue. Gabriela jokingly warns, “You guys should go visit Puerto Rico. It’s a really beautiful island. And not the tourist sites, the native sites. Actually no, stay away from the native sites.” The hesitation to want to share her native sites shows the fear of losing the authentic nature of her island. Tourism may boost the economy, but Gabriela explains it also creates Americanization which makes it harder for Puerto Ricans to preserve their culture and their native language.

Colorism is a huge factor which Gabriela stresses when discussing americanization. The need to be or marry someone from a lighter skin complexion is something which hispanics including Puerto Ricans struggle with. In Puerto Rican culture individuals praise lighter skin tones and shone those from a darker complexion. Gabriela Martinez discusses how, despite being part of a diverse Caribbean culture, there is an unspoken preference for lighter skin. She recalls a moment when her aunt told her, “Oh, when you grow up you should be with a white man to… leave… yeah, how do you say that?” to which I responded, “Clean the race?” This discomforting phrase is something that many Puerto Ricans and Hispanics have heard before. The idea of cleansing one’s family and appearing whiter or american is still an ongoing struggle. While Gabriela herself is light-skinned she understands the discrimination that comes with being dark skinned. She acknowledges it stating, “Hispanics are racist with their own selves… they hide it.” She notes now beauty standards are affected by this bias and kids are often told to use extra sunscreen to avoid getting darker. Americanization belittling certain community members because they don’t fit into their ideas on what a Puerto Rican should be is dangerous. Especially as how they dictate what a proper Puerto Rican is is through American standards. This dilemma further prove how apparent American influences are to Puerto Rico and affect there community.  

The worry Gabriela has on the americanization of Puerto Rican people and its impact on preserving Puerto Rican heritage, tourism’s effect in preserving the originality of their community, and the impact of skin color is viewed. Through Gabriela Martinez’s experiences, Puerto Ricans try to find a balance in preserving their cultural roots while fitting into American norms for survival. Challenges like integration into a new culture, tourism, and colorism shape how Puerto Ricans live their lives and connect to their culture. Despite American influences,  Gabriela makes it clear that Puerto Ricans work hard to maintain their heritage. Puerto Rican identity remains strong, and even with fears of americanization individuals like Martinez have actively fought cultural shifts and embraced the uniqueness of their roots. 

Commentary: 

I was surprised at how Gabriela explained that Puerto Rican individuals are constantly battling Americanization. A lot of jokes were made especially on Puerto Rico being the best island which emphasizes even further how proud Gabriela is of her culture. Theres alot of good and bad things about Puerto Rican culture and I’m happy I could create a space where she could discuss and give an honest opinion on Americanization affecting Puerto Rico. I related to her when she explained having to take care of her parents paperwork due to the language barrier. I have immigrant parents and although they are from the Dominican Republic we share similar language struggles with both islands having Spanish as a primary language. Us both needing to help our parents with documents reminded me of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan and allowed me to realize that having immigrant parents is a community. No matter where we come from we can all understand the lifestyle of having immigrant parents. This understanding of having immigrant parents during my interview most likely made Gabriela more comfortable with opening up to me. When you suspect that someone has gone through similar things as you you become more open and less afraid of being weird. I had fun during this interview not only understanding the misconceptions and hardships Puerto Ricans deal with but what makes them similar to me and my experiences.