<br><br>**Title** Flying High Puerto Rico's Flag Waves at Super Bowl Halftime & Winter Olympics<br><br>As the world watches the Super Bowl halftime show and the Winter Olympics, Puerto Rico is making a mark on two monumental stages. The question of who represents Puerto Rico remains a complex one, tied to its history, identity, and status as a U.S. territory.<br><br>The reactions to recent performances demonstrate the evolution of representation in Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny, a six-time Grammy award winner, proudly showcases Puerto Rican culture through his music. He sings and raps in Spanish, incorporates Puerto Rican slang, and frequently references politics and everyday life on the island. Yet, he has successfully bridged the gap between his native culture and the U.S. mainstream.<br><br>In contrast, Kellie Delka, a native Texan who moved to Puerto Rico eight years ago, carried the island's massive flag at the Olympics opening ceremony. As a member of Puerto Rico's Olympic team, she will compete in skeleton on Friday and Saturday.<br><br>**The Complexity of Representation**<br><br>This is not a new debate. In 2002, Michael Mike González, an American athlete, was part of Puerto Rico's bobsled team until it was discovered that he did not meet the island's residency requirement. The ensuing scandal led to the recognition of Puerto Rico's entire winter sports federation being revoked.<br><br>The question of who counts as Puerto Rican has always been a topic of debate, especially as more generations grow up off-island and may not learn Spanish, according to Antonio Sotomayor, associate professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. When you have athletes that do not speak the one element that mostly differs us from the U.S., it rubs the wrong way for many people, said Sotomayor.<br><br>**Puerto Rico's Identity in Music**<br><br>This dynamic is also reflected in Puerto Rican music. Ricky Martin, born Enrique Martín Morales, initially sang in English to cross over into the U.S. market. However, he praised Bad Bunny for staying true to himself and his roots. In a letter published in El Nuevo Día on February 3, Martin wrote You won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.<br><br>During his halftime show, Bad Bunny invited Martin to perform Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii, a song that presents Hawaii as a cautionary tale of American cultural colonization and gentrification.<br><br>**Tropical Nations' Quest for Winter Athletes**<br><br>Delka, who does not claim to be Puerto Rican but has made the island her home, is trying so hard to learn Spanish. What doesn't scare her? Careening head-first down the skeleton track at 80 mph (129 kph), her chin just inches from the ice.<br><br>This phenomenon is not unique to Puerto Rico; tropical countries often cast a wide net to field Winter Games competitors. Nicolas Claveau-Laviolette, born in Venezuela and raised in Canada, represents his home country this year. Richardson Viana, adopted and raised by an Italian family in France at age 3, competes for Haiti.<br><br>**The Future of Representation**<br><br>For Delka, her neighbors have embraced her as one of their own once they learn how long she has lived on the island. This was evident on social media after the opening ceremony, where Delka waved the flag and wore a skirt inspired by traditional dances.<br><br>At a watch party for Bad Bunny's halftime show in San Juan two days later, Alexandra Núñez told the AP that she knew of an Olympian representing Puerto Rico but not who or what sport. Juan Carlos Lugo, a resident of Guaynabo, knew Delka would be sliding for Puerto Rico and said her ethnicity doesn't matter.<br><br>As long as she wears the Puerto Rican flag on her chest and represents, I am proud, he said.<br><br>In the end, it appears that representation in Puerto Rico is slowly evolving to include foreign-born athletes who uphold and celebrate the island's culture. For Delka, the focus remains on her sport and personal growth.<br><br>**What Does This Mean for Inclusive Educators?**<br><br>As inclusive educators, we can learn from Puerto Rico's journey of self-discovery and cultural representation. By embracing diversity and promoting inclusivity in our classrooms, we can foster a sense of belonging among students from all backgrounds.<br><br>In the words of Bad Bunny, It's not about being the best; it's about being true to yourself.
0 Comments