US According to Them
Stateside Portrayals of Puerto Ricans and Their Culture, 1898-2010
University Press of Mississippi · Print & ebook · February 26, 2025
The acquisition of Puerto Rico as a colony in 1898 prompted the interest of many in the United States—the military, correspondents, investors, missionaries, politicians, scientists, and tourists.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- Ligia T. Domenech examines US descriptions of Puerto Rican culture from 1898 to 2010.
- Genres
- Hispanic American Studies, Caribbean & Latin American Studies, Caribbean History
- Published
- University Press of Mississippi, February 26, 2025
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
War Against All Puerto RicansNelson A Denis61% matchShares Caribbean History
Cuba in the American ImaginationLouis A. Pérez Jr., Drew Birdseye56% match
Shakin' Up Race and GenderMarta E. Sánchez56% matchShares Hispanic American Studies
Blurred BordersJorge Duany54% matchShares Hispanic American Studies and Caribbean & Latin American Studies
On Becoming CubanLouis A. Pérez Jr., Louis A. P?rez52% matchShares Caribbean & Latin American Studies
LatinolandMarie Arana49% matchShares Hispanic American Studies
Cuba and the U.s. EmpireJane Franklin, Noam Chomsky49% match
For younger readers: Coming to America: the Story of Immigration, Across the Bay, The New Americans
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
The acquisition of Puerto Rico as a colony in 1898 prompted the interest of many in the United States—the military, correspondents, investors, missionaries, politicians, scientists, and tourists. Wanting to know more about Puerto Rico, its inhabitants, and its potential utility, many of these curious but untrained observers visited the island and documented their experiences for the benefit of future visitors.
Continue reading
Decades later, readers continue to revisit these writings and create new accounts that explore the “effects of American civilization” on Puerto Rican society. In Us According to Them: Stateside Portrayals of Puerto Ricans and Their Culture, 1898-2010, Puerto Rican historian Ligia T. Domenech exposes the distorted mirror turned on Puerto Rico, one constructed through the eyes of foreigners. Each of the eighteen chapters focuses on a different aspect of mainland US descriptions of Puerto Rican culture—from gender, race, and class to music, religion, and food. Accurate or not, books on Puerto Rico have contained perceptions about Puerto Ricans and their world that continue to shape opinions held by US citizens dwelling stateside. This book explores the lasting impacts of these repeated stereotypes on the collective understandings of both the colonizer and the colonized. Read more
Stateside Portrayals
Ligia T. Domenech examines US descriptions of Puerto Rican culture from 1898 to 2010.
Come here for
- Mainland US portrayals of Puerto Rican gender, race, class, music, religion, and food
- How repeated stereotypes shape understandings on both sides of colonial relations
Expect
- Eighteen chapters, each focused on a different aspect of mainland portrayals
- An examination of stereotypes and their lasting effects
Where it sits
| Hispanic American Studies | 59% |
|---|---|
| Caribbean History | 38% |
| Caribbean & Latin American Studies | 29% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- U.S. History
- Caribbean History
- Hispanic American Lit Crit
- Caribbean & Latin American Studies
- Authors
- Ligia T. Domenech
- Publisher
- University Press of Mississippi
- Published
- February 26, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- U.S. History