Dr. Nelson I. Colón-Tarrats
President / Puerto Rico Community Foundation
TThere can be no doubt that last week was a game-changer in philanthropy. On separate fronts, we saw ABFE (Association of Black Foundation Executives) members issue a joint statement advocating for a unified approach to racial justice, and the Ford Foundation lead an initiative to increase philanthropic contributions to address racial inequity through debt issuance. Both were bold moves that position the philanthropic sector on the cusp of a new era of strategic alignment.
What are the boundaries and geographic borders of racism? A global tidal wave of anti-racism uprisings has surpassed the U.S. border. In Puerto Rico, George Floyd evokes the senseless deaths of Adolfina Villanueva, killed by police while defending her humble shack; and José Vega Jorge—an outstanding student, karate champion, and Central American and Caribbean Games medalist—killed by a police officer who responded to a 911 robbery call at a Burger King and didn't stop to find out that Vega Jorge had chased the robber. The officer fired 10 shots, killing Vega Jorge.
Recently, an 11-year-old girl, Alma Yariela Cruz Cruz, was charged with five counts of assault for defending herself against a pattern of cruel, racist bullying at her school. Although she is alive, she still bears the stigma of being the aggressor. On the other hand, in Loíza, a small coastal town just twenty minutes from San Juan—Puerto Rico’s capital city—founded by runaway slaves, young Black adults mentioned in a focus group held in 2015 by the Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico that, when they crossed paths with police in their neighborhood, they expected to be thrown to the ground, flipped over onto their stomachs, and have their money taken from their pockets. At a local shopping mall, they said, security guards usually follow, question, and harass them. Loíza has the highest concentration of Black residents on the island, nearly 40.1%, and it also has the widest educational achievement gap and an unemployment rate of over 40.1%.
These experiences are lived and relived by many Puerto Ricans, as the color of our skin dictates the opportunities that society has designed for most of the lighter-skinned Puerto Ricans. A recent study conducted by the Institute for Census Research at the University of Puerto Rico – Cayey, highlights that Black individuals have to try four times harder to land a job.
All Black Puerto Ricans are American citizens.
This is our moment of conscience. The opportunity to include Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean, as an essential partner in these philanthropic initiatives. As the past three years have shown, Puerto Ricans are resilient, entrepreneurial, and committed citizens. We have the social capital and the institutional infrastructure to move quickly and effectively.
As Puerto Rico has faced a major bankruptcy, disrupting the island’s growth; two hurricanes within a week of each other, bringing devastation especially for the most vulnerable of the population; a series of earthquakes that to this day are compromising the south region of Puerto Rico on a daily basis and; a COVID-19 health crisis, that makes the Caribbean and other islands of the world more vulnerable due to territorial disconnection; we have found innovative, creative, and common-sense solutions in record time. Two major forces have come together, allowing us to face these challenges and the many more to come: the philanthropic sector and the community-based non-profit sector.
Racism hurts everyone. Puerto Rico is a pivotal partner in the renewed fight to end racism and construct a new democracy.