Puerto Rico Still Matters to America Today

As we look at the 2024 Presidential election, majority of the voters in America today are feeling dissatisfied towards the options today. Between Trump and Biden, voters are actively seeking new options. Meanwhile, when it comes to political changes, citizens in Puerto Rico are also paying attention to the future of the nation. How come we seldom hear anything related to Puerto Rico? What is the history between modern day America and the "forgotten part" of the nation? Mónica A. Jiménez is a poet and historian. Her research and writing explore the intersections of law, race, and empire in Latin America and the Caribbean. Her book, Making Never Never Land: Race and Law in the Creation of Puerto Rico, which offers a legal history of race and exception in the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico.