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Solving the problem of Vieques (March 3, 2000)

Puerto Rico goes Pop
by Wilfredo J. Rodríguez, age17

This is Puerto Rico Pride week and, as usual, New York City was host to the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Hundreds of thousands jammed the sidewalks for the high-spirited celebration of Puerto Rican culture, music and ethnic pride. There were tributes to Tito Puente, the jazz musician of Puerto Rican heritage who died on May 31.

Extra asked a Puerto Rican teen to write about the music and politics of Puerto Rico.

From the legendary Carlos Santana to Latin pop sensation Ricky Martin, Latin music is taking over pop.

Most of the youth in Puerto Rico got very excited about the stardom of Ricky. I asked some friends and most of them said that they were proud of him because he brought fame to Puerto Rico.

Others got into more elaborate answers telling me that his music transcended the barriers of language and opened the doors to the Latin singers.

One was very specific on his answer and said that he was the one who made Puerto Rican cool.

I say he turned Puerto Rico into part of Pop culture.

Many other Puerto Ricans have found success. Even if they weren't born here, we are proud of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. They brought also fame to the island in a different way.

"Vieques, estoy contigo"

But Ricky Martin has found ways to explain Puerto Rico to the rest of the world. At the Billboard awards this year, he shouted "Vieques, estoy contigo." (Vieques, I am with you). For most of the people outside of Puerto Rico, Vieques might sound very strange but is an important issue.

Puerto Rico is a self-governed island that is part of the United States. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but they don't have a voting representative in the Congress.

We feel betrayed by the U.S. in the case of Vieques, a small island at the southeast of the main island that is a current town. Two thirds of the island is property of the U.S. Navy. One Puerto Rican was killed by the military practices taking place and the bombs are affecting the health of many others. This also caused ecological damage and pollution to water, land and air.

Music to my ear

Ricky is not the only Puerto Rican to make great music. There are Puerto Ricans in other genres of music. I have to mention Puya that brought fame to Puerto Rico through heavy metal, and José Feliciano that got a huge popularity in the 70's.

Rap also has it's Puerto Rican singers that are noteworthy but are too many to list here. If you like Ricky Martin, you might like Fiel a la Vega (pop rock), Carlos Ponce (pop), Viva Nativa (pop rock), Cultura Profetica (reggae), Robi Draco Rosa (rock), Ivy Queen (rap), Elvis Crespo (salsa) and many others.

It's worth exploring the music from our island and knowing the history from which it flows.

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