Puerto Rico, An Island In Search Of Itself

Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1898, and its residents have been American citizens for over a century. Both countries have traditionally recoiled from defining the island as a "colony", opting for "commonwealth" instead.

But recent developments in Washington D.C., including a federal financial oversight board, have changed the way Puerto Rico defines itself. Producer Alana Casanova-Burgess went to Puerto Rico to find out why "colony" is now a popular, though still painful, term—and what it means for an island in economic ruin. 

• Emilio Pantojas is a sociology professor with the Universidad de Puerto Rico, and author of Crónicas del Colapso: Economía, Política y Sociedad de Puerto Rico en el Siglo Veintiuno. 
• Gretchen Sierra-Zorita is with the National Puerto Rican Agenda and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.
• Yarimar Bonilla is a professor at Rutgers University and creator the website Puerto Rico Syllabus, which offers information about the situation on the island.
• Alfredo Carrasquillo is a psychoanalyst and the director of the Institute for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Citizenship at the University of the Sacred Heart in San Juan. 

The US and Puerto Rican flags outside the capitol building in San Juan.

(Alana Casanova-Burgess/WNYC)

A statue of President Obama, who visited Puerto Rico in 2011, and eight other US presidents who have made trips to the island.

(Alana Casanova-Burgess/WNYC)

The Puerta de la Bandera is a photo-op destination in Old San Juan, and used to be painted in colors.

(Alana Casanova-Burgess/WNYC)

Visitors from around Puerto Rico and from the diaspora come to Calle San Jose to get their photo taken in front of La Puerta de la Bandera -- even though the flag is now painted in black in protest.

(Alana Casanova-Burgess/WNYC)

Visits from around Puerto Rico and from the diaspora come to Calle San Jose to get their photo taken in front of La Puerta de la Bandera -- even though the flag is now painted in black in protest.

(Alana Casanova-Burgess/WNYC)

Song:

Lamento Borincano by Orquestra Serenata Tropical