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Celebrating Puerto Rican heritage in America
7/4/2026, 11:27 PM - 618 words
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Article text
Celebrating Puerto Rican heritage in America
[music] >> It's one of the most colorful, vibrant, and proud celebrations of cultural heritage anywhere in the United States.
And this year, actor Anthony Ramos is the official king of the Puerto Rican Day Parade.
He's best known for his roles in In the Heights and Hamilton.
He also happens to be my cousin.
>> I've hosted it for 6 years.
Trust me, it is a party for 3 [music] hours non-stop.
>> I grew up watching the parade.
It was really special when they asked me to do it this year.
>> Jorell Melendez Badillo is a professor of Latin American studies and a scholar of the island's history.
>> Part of the Puerto Rican experience is longing for a place to belong.
I live in Wisconsin, and you can create community in a plate of food.
It connects you, right?
>> Puerto Ricans are people with a history of service and sacrifice, an indelible part of American culture.
From the hard court to the Supreme Court.
>> I swore when I grew up that I was going to help change the world.
>> A colony of Spain for 400 years, Puerto Rico became part of the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War.
In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship.
>> There were people that opened their arms, but Puerto Ricans were seen as a threat.
I remember my grandmother telling me about how she would go [music] to try to find a place to rent, and they would say, "No dogs or Puerto Ricans allowed." [music] >> It was against this backdrop of a clash of cultures that West Side Story was written.
>> But you love me, Bess.
>> She's too dark to pass. >> don't.
>> Rita Moreno steals the show as Anita and headlines the film's best-known song, America.
>> Life can be bright in America.
>> If you can fight in America. [music] >> There were many obstacles, a lot of bias, It's especially in uh Hollywood.
I really became very proud of being a Hispanic when West Side Story happened.
>> Rita Moreno won an Oscar for the role.
>> She for the longest time really defined how the entertainment industry perceived Latinas and Latinos actually at large. >> [music] >> Thinking about Ricky Martin's 1999 Grammy performance, it really marked a turning point in US music for other artists like Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez.
>> But [music] one of our brightest stars becomes famous for rapping about, of all things, Colonial America. >> [music] >> I really think a large part of me writing musicals was sort of trying to create the parts I'd like to see for myself, for Latinos, for people of color, um that that weren't previously available.
>> And right now, there is another artist redefining the cultural influence of Puerto Ricans.
His name, Bad Bunny.
He's a champion of the people and sings about the lack of basic [music] necessities on the island.
And earlier this year, Bad Bunny dominated the biggest stage in the world, the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
>> Puerto Ricans are part of the fabric of the United States.
Puerto Ricans have not only made an impact [music] in the United States cultural sphere, but they are part of every fiber of this country.
>> So, when we're celebrating 250 years of America, what is July 4th mean to you as a Puerto Rican?
>> You know that's complex, right?
Cuz I was born here.
But the spirit that runs through me is from somewhere that was around before this country was even born.
>> That's a very American story.