Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Show Highlights Puerto Rico's Story

Puerto Ricans are American citizens, full stop. But when reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny took center stage at this year's Super Bowl, confusion about this basic fact sparked a national conversation about an often-overlooked chapter of American history.

The island of Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1899, following the Spanish-American War. Along with Hawaii, the Philippines, Guam, and Cuba, Puerto Rico transferred from Spanish to American control through the Treaty of Paris.

What these islands had in common wasn't random. They were all major sugar producers or had the potential to become ones, and the powerful Sugar Trust had friends in high places.

But here's where the story gets complicated in ways that still matter today. Congress didn't want to fully incorporate these new territories under the same rules that had welcomed other states since 1787. The legal gymnastics that followed created a new category called "unincorporated territories."

In 1901, the Supreme Court ruled in Downes v. Bidwell that Puerto Rico was "foreign in a domestic sense." This puzzling phrase meant the island belonged to America for economic purposes like tariffs, but its residents weren't treated equally to other Americans.

Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens in 1917. They can travel throughout the country without passports, serve in the military, and contribute to American culture in countless ways. Yet they can't vote for president while living on the island, and they have limited representation in Congress.

The relationship remains fraught. When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, the federal response fell far short of what many islanders needed. That memory still stings for the 3.2 million American citizens who call Puerto Rico home.

Why This Inspires

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance did more than entertain 120 million viewers. It reminded millions of Americans that Puerto Rico's story is America's story, complete with complexity and contradiction.

The conversation his performance sparked opened doors for learning. People across the country googled Puerto Rico's status, shared facts with friends, and discovered connections they didn't know existed.

When confusion turns into curiosity, that's when real understanding begins. Bad Bunny didn't just bring reggaeton to the world's biggest stage; he brought attention to an American community that deserves to be seen, heard, and remembered as part of our shared story.