Mexico is mostly White and Indian, what are puerto ricans?

Question

Many of them here in New Jersey have that African look and could really pass by as an African-American.

Were there many Africans in Puerto Rico? Does anyone have any history on it?

Answer 1

PRicans are a mixture of taino, africans and spanish. So none of them are all white or all black.

They vary A LOT! From super white with blue eyes to dark skin.

Thats when the spanish brought africans to work on the island because the tainos were dying because of the slavery

then the taino, spanish and africans ''mated''....lol

AND thus! The puerto rican is born!

Answer 2

Puerto Rico ,like the rest of the spanish speaking caribbean which includes Venezuela, Northern Colombia, Panama, Cuba and Dominican Republic, has three historical races (in order of importance): European (Spanish), Taino Caribbean Indians and africans who were brought as slaves.

The mixed of these races is all over the spanish speaking caribbean region. Puerto Rico has more spanish and indian than african; Dominican Republic has more African than Indian and Spanish; Cuba has less Indian and more African and Spanish but less mixed than in Dominican Republic.

Of all the caribbean countries, the one that resembles most to Puerto Rico is Venezuela.

Answer 3

OK.  Europeans (French,Irish, Italians) immigrated A LOT more to Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.  A LOT more..

1. Brazil - 100 Million Whites

2. Argentina - 40 Million Whites

3. Mexico -  ~18 Million Whites

(These 3 countries have the largest population of whites in Latin America)

Many of the Taino indians got killed (sadly) and they were replaced with African Immigrants (slaves).  Whoever said that there weren't many africans in puerto rico is WRONG, WRONG WRONG.  

Again, many latinos always want to claim how "white" they are so they can impress americans.  Sure there a few white puerto ricans, but they're not the Majority!

Most of the island is Mixed Black, Taino and Spanish.  And sadly that would be classified as Black in the U.S.  

So most puerto ricans are Black..

Answer 4

Native Puerto Ricans are mostly european and african.  There are no Taino or Arawak indians since the 1500's when they died off completely due to disease brought by the spaniards.  Very little evidence of those cultures remains and the languages are completely unknown.  Modern day puerto ricans do not decend from the natives, as is the case in the rest of the caribbean, because again, they all died off very quickly after the arrival of Europeans.  All the tribes of the Taino's and Arawaks were gone in less than 100 years, so it's impossible for anyone to decend from them.  Like the dinosaur, they are long extinct.

Answer 5

Nena has the best answer, I just want to add some points:

1. We got taino's genes as the University of PR proved.

* Yes, the pure tainos were extincted in 100 years or so when they rebeled against the spaniards and also when they got sickness from Europe their metabolism could not fight.  But the spanish people raped the taino women and got sons of mixed races so their genes came into our blood.

* Later the african slaves were brought in to replace the tainos who were declining in numbers and again the races got mixed again with european mating african women and the european-taino also.  From those three races mix the boricua race started.

* If we care to add additional smaller groups also came to the island from France, Germany, Corcega, and other Europe places.  Also, it is important to mention thatt since 1898 americans are here and mixing their genes with ours too.  After more than 100 years we got to give them some credit in the current version of the boricua race.

2. Since the number of african slaves overcome the number of taino natives we should consider their contribution to our gene pool higher than of the tainos.  However white european (and later white americans) are still the highest contribution to the mix.

Were there many Africans in Puerto Rico?

* No, not many.  Maybe some diplomats or business men from Egypt and other North African countries.

* People with african blood?  Yes a lot, in all shades of skin color, but we do not call them african-americans or african-boricuas.  We do not label people by skin colors, they are as boricuas as other who have more spanish/european look like green or blue eyes, blond hair, etc.

Answer 6

you go Nena! right on!  The only ones that are discriminated are the "gringos" which I am.  My kids are part puertorican and part white but because they were born in the states they are also considered "gringos".

Answer 7

Puerto Ricans are a mix of Taino Indian, Spanish (white) & african(black). Even later, people from Germany, Ireland, China, Lebanon, the US & other places came to PR & also mixed in. Puerto Ricans can be black or brown skinned and/or mixed & just as easily be white or indian. Most people here are mixed & proud of it. PR doesn't seperate people by race like many other latin countries, here everyone is puertorcian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rica...

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Yes, actually I know many other latinos that want to be classified as white. You are correct, I think its ignorance. But in PR, people are actually very proud of their Taino heritage, thats why we call ourselves 'boricuas' because this is the taino word fro puertorican. The US tries to force the idea that all Taino's died out when the spanish arrived, but in PR most people know that isnt true b/c you can see it in our appearance. The University of PR then did a study & tested DNA & found %62 tested were of indian descent.

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Well I lived in Philly & worked in NJ & I can tell you that if they are around puertorcians or feel that being boricua is cool they will acknowledge it. Myabe if they are darker skinned(african ancestory) & they around alot of blacks, they might want to identify with them. I am not really sure, but I know some people who grow up 'american' & do not know much about their culture & language. All they know is what they see, so they try to follow. But like I said, since we are a mix of 3 races, sometimes people take 1 side that they feel closer too. But on the island, there are no sides, just puertorican.

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And also Tim I want to add that you say -its not fair if we acknowledge the spanish & black, when taino were first. I didnt say that they are more proud of 1 over another, it's equal. Yes that is true. Taino were first & we also know that the spanish treated them very badly, however when it comes down to it we have blood of all these races. In America when someone is half white & half black, they are classified as black (b/c  of racism). Should a mixed person just pick 1 side of their family? I mean say that they are only 1 race? & forget 1 half of their family & heritage? No we dont think so. It needs to ALL be acknowledged. Do u see what I a saying?

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Ok I can answer that also. PR is a commonwealth of the US, that means we are all americans. Ok. SO the US wanted us to fill out the census & they asked us, if we were either black or white.. ?? We dont really know how to answer that, so PR gov't officials started telling people if you look white, indian or mixed then check 'white'. If your very dark brown or black skinned then check 'black'. Why?? Because everyone knows the US states is a racist country. They figured if we say that we're mostly white, then it would give us more privellages.  Like I said, we know what we are, we are proud of it, we dont need a survey to tell us what color we are. The US forced us to do it, so we only answered what would look good in their eyes.

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IMACHEF:

You really should read through this article:

http://www.taino-tribe.org/pr-taino-dna....

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Well said Darth Eugene Vader... Well said.

Answer 8

Puerto Ricans is a mix of the Taino Indian whom were first here on the island, they were the Arawaks from South America. Then came the Spaniards whom men and woman of both races did marry and then came the Africans whom married with the mix of the Taino-Spaniard.  Later after the Africans arrived, many ships from other countries stopped here to trade, freshen up with supplies and provisions and some of the sailors whom were from England, Holand, and other countries decided to stay and flee to the central and south parts of the Island marring the mix of the Taino-Spaniard and African races.  

  There are Puerto Ricans born here with last names such as Fulch, Kerr, and other European names. Now, when a person sees their race inheritance, then they can take on all or just one. For example I was born in New York State, but I am from my mom's side, German, Polish, Irish and English and from my father I am Puerto Rican. I speak both languages and a bit of German. I also celebrate St.Patrick's day wearing green. I don't drink beer, but I like the German Festivals, and I do eat Polish food. Also I eat Puerto Rican food and hear the music (not reggaeton or rap) and I love the traditions of Puerto Rico. In other words, a Puerto Rican can do any of the things from their inheritance of race or mix them all. I mix them all and enjoy being international.