From Patriotism to Protest: The Dark Story Behind Puerto Rico’s Black Flag
At a glance:
Puerto Rico today is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America.
The black-and-white resistance flag, was repainted by female artists on July 4, 2016, in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, for protest reasons.
Origins of the official Puerto Rico flag also have a “revolutionary” history.
Puerto Rico’s future status is still undecided, with previous referendums showing a mix of opinions within Puerto Ricans.
The Territory of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a self-governing archipelago and island in the Caribbean, organised as an unincorporated territory of the United States (U.S.).
This means that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, since 1917, and can move freely between the archipelago and mainland, however they are not allowed to vote in the elections of the United States, as well as they do not pay federal income tax.
Puerto Rico’s Black Flag
The black flag, which follows the design of Puerto Rico’s official flag, only in a black and white colour scheme, is known as a resistance flag. Painted in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2016, on July 4th. A group of female artists repainted a flag mural that initially was depicting the flag of Puerto Rico in its original colours. The mural was on the door of 55 Calle San Jose.
The flag mural on the door of 55 Calle San Jose.
A few days prior, the Obama administration of the United States had signed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, known as PROMESA. This act essentially put Puerto Rico’s finances into a federal oversight by a seven-member fiscal committee to restructure the islands debt of 123 billion USD. Since that day the black Puerto Rico flag is seen in protests and murals in the Americas.
A dive into history of the flag of Puerto Rico:
Even the origins of the Puerto Rican flag today, have a history of “revolution” within. The flag was designed in 1895 by the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, based in New York, which advocated independence for Cuba and Puerto Rico. Its design is the same as Cuba's, but with the colours inverted.
Flag of Puerto Rico (left) Flag of Cuba (right)
But that’s not all. The islands’ first flag was the Revolutionary Flag of Lares (below). Designed back in 1868, it was used at the time in the revolt against Spanish colonialism.
Following the 1898 U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War, leaders like José de Diego and Eugenio María de Hostos anticipated that the U.S. might grant the island independence. However, the Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, resulted in the U.S. annexing Puerto Rico. This treaty marked Spain's loss of its American colonies and strengthened the United States' global influence.
Almost a century later, and while other revolutionary movements were being created, this time opposing the United States, the Gag Law (Ley de La Mordaza in Spanish) as it was called of 1948, strictly prohibited the display of Puerto Rican flags, or any nationalistic symbol that could suggest opinions in favour of Puerto Rican independence. As a result, until 1952, the US-controlled police arrested anyone displaying the flag on charges of insubordination - the maximum penalty was 10 years.
While the Law was recalled a few years later, the pro-impendence flag eventually became the flag of Puerto Rico, with a slight modification of the colour blue, to resemble the United States’ flag.
The status of Puerto Rico today
Puerto Rico’s political status remains a complex debate, even between Puerto Ricans themselves. The debate is amongst three main options, remaining with the current status of being a U.S. territory, achieving independence or becoming the 51st U.S. state. A 2020 non-binding referendum showed a small majority of 52% that favored statehood. Referendums have been showing a mix of opinions though for different political reasons, they tend to have low voter turnouts.
The black Puerto Rican flag emerged as a symbol of resilience, and solidarity, in response to Puerto Rico's economic crisis and political challenges. It just remains to be seen what the definitive resolution will be for the future status of Puerto Rico.
