Puerto Ricans (Island)
Puerto Ricans are the modern inhabitants of the island of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States that has commonwealth status. The distinctive ethnic identity of Puerto Ricans is based on Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and North American historical traditions. Puerto Rico is basically self-governing, headed by a democratically elected governor. The people are principally Spanish speakers with a minority being bilingual in both Spanish and English. Most Puerto Ricans live in cities and the economy is now largely commercial, with agribusinesses (primarily sugar cane), service industries, tourism, and manufacturing.
Select the Culture Summary link above for a longer description of the culture.
Middle America and the Caribbean --Caribbean
Puerto Rico
SU01
21
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3046
Documents referred to in this section are included in the eHRAF World Culture collection and are referenced by author, date of publication, and eHRAF document number.
The SU01 Puerto Ricans – Island collection presents a broad comprehensive coverage of Puerto Rican ethnography, ranging in time span from the early colonial period to the early twenty-first century, but with emphasis on the period following 1898, under United States administration. A number of studies in this collection represent specific community studies, see for example: Landy (1959, no. 2); Seda Bonilla (1973, no. 6); Safa (1974, no. 8); Buitrago Ortiz (1973, no. 11); LaRuffa (1971, no. 12); Minz (1972, no. 15); Harris (2001, no. 28); Berman Santana (1966, no. 21); Susser (1992, no. 23); Morris (1979, no 26); and Hernandez Hiraldo (2006, no. 27). A major basic document in this collection, although limited in time to the late 1950s, is Steward, et al. which is a survey volume analyzing sociocultural variation in rural Puerto Rico, with emphasis on the major forms of agricultural production, and on the urban upper-class in San Juan.
For more detailed information on the content of the individual works in this collection see the abstracts in the citation preceding each document.
John Beierle
Agregados –landless agricultural workers– Use LABOR RELATIONS ( 466)
Ataque – Use ECSTATIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES ( 786)
Barriadas –neighborhoods– Use COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ( 621)
Barrios – Use COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ( 621)
Chanted rosaries – Use RITUAL ( 788)
Chiripas –odd jobs– Use LABOR SUPPLY AND EMPLOYMENT ( 464)
Colonia –the sugarcane corporation– Use SPECIAL CROPS ( 249) with COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION ( 474)
Common –law marriages– Use SPECIAL UNIONS AND MARRIAGES ( 588)
Consensual unions – Use SPECIAL UNIONS AND MARRIAGES ( 588) and MODE OF MARRIAGE ( 583)
Female cloistering – Use GENDER STATUS ( 562)
Fishing associations – Use MARINE INDUSTRIES ( 228) and/or FISHING ( 226) and COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION ( 474)
Governor – Use CHIEF EXECUTIVE ( 643)
Hacienda – Use OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF CAPITAL ( 471)
Junta (junta de ayuda) –a mutual aid group– Use MUTUAL AID ( 476)
Junta de Planificacion –planning committee– Use ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ( 179)
Land authority – Use OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF CAPITAL ( 471) and/or STATE ENTERPRISE ( 475) ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES ( 647)
Machismo – Use ETHICS ( 577) and/or GENDER STATUS ( 562)
Marine sanctuaries – Use CULTURAL GOALS ( 185) with ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ( 318)
Medianeros –sharecroppers– Use RENTING AND LEASING ( 427)
Mestizaje –race mixture– Use RACIAL IDENTIFICATION ( 144)
Municipios – Use TOWNS ( 632)
Needlework –as a home industry– Use TEXTILE INDUSTRIES ( 288)
Noviazgo –a trial period before marriage– Use ARRANGING A MARRIAGE ( 584)
Operation Bootstrap – Use ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ( 179)
Pinoneros –coastal people of African ancestry and maroon backgrounds– Use CLASSES ( 565)
Poblado –neighborhood– Use COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ( 621)
Puerto Rico/ United States relations – Use INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ( 648)
Resource management – Use ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ( 318)
Spiritualism – Use GENERAL CHARACTER OF RELIGION ( 771)
Tiendas –small stores– Use RETAIL MARKETING ( 443) and/or COMMERCIAL FACILITIES ( 366)
John Beierle