"Colonization is Extinction", a fight for Puerto Rico's independence
As someone from Guadeloupe, I've been on a journey to define myself for the past 6 years. During my discussion with Kerry-Ann Brown-Reid on her Carry On Friends podcast back in September 2020, I said something that I still think about from time to time: “I don't think I've ever felt completely free”.
It's a weird feeling. What is the concept of freedom when you're a Black person from a Caribbean island that isn't independent? And when you live abroad? Although independence fights happened in the 60's-70's just like anywhere else the decolonization movement spread, Guadeloupe remained a French overseas territory for better and for worse. Regardless, I still have a strong sense of my Caribbean identity and perceive other Caribbean territories through this lens. That is why I easily forget that there are other Caribbean islands that aren’t independent yet. In 2017, the hit song "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and the devastating Hurricane Maria brought back the paradoxical situation of Puerto Rico into the light. This island can have a big impact on global pop culture, but it is a US colony unable to lead its own political destiny.
Released in 2017, the documentary "Colonization is Extinction" by Walter and Jessica Alomar explains the history of Puerto Rico in 40 minutes. Invasion, repression, genocide, contamination, corruption… Experts and political activists give us a quick rundown of the reasons leading to the current fight for independence. While watching, I couldn't help but think about how Puerto Rico was similar to the French overseas territories. The forced sterilization in Reunion Island, the nuclear tests in French Polynesia, the land poisoning in Guadeloupe and Martinique, the massive organized immigration because life isn't just sustainable anymore, the ongoing gentrification… And the question always remains: how can human beings treat other human beings this way? Truthfully, I don’t think the answer to this specific question matters that much anymore. It is more about bringing awareness, so people can have freedom and agency in the way they lead their lives.
As a Black woman from Guadeloupe who has been living in France for 15 years now, the most relatable moments were the street interviews with Puerto Rican people from various backgrounds. Some were born on the island but immigrated to the USA early. Others are first or second-generation descendants who have never been to Puerto Rico or only visited a few times… All experiences are valid, yet none of these people had never or barely heard of the bills and actions set up by the US government to block Puerto Rico's autonomy. Ignorance kills any chance to fight for justice when you’re being wronged and robbed of your own future. It kills any chance to know who you are. And to me, this is what “Colonization is Extinction” is about. It’s not just about the fight for independence or explaining the economic crisis. It’s about preserving the identity, history, and culture of a nation by any means necessary.
Walter Alomar is the president of the Organization for Culture of Hispanic Origins (OCHO). On June 20th 2022, he’ll be at the United Nations Decolonization hearings for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and 17 other colonies around the world. He’s one of those with knowledge willing to share it and create some change.
What is the concept of freedom when you're from a Caribbean island that isn't independent? And when you live abroad? It’s knowing who you are, where you come from, and caring that other people know it as well.