A Brief History of Puerto Rico: From Pre-Columbian Communities to Bad Bunny

The place of Puerto Rico is often ambiguous, and so is its relationship to the United States. Based on his critically acclaimed book, Puerto Rico: A National History, this talk invites people to grapple with Puerto Rico’s complex and vibrant history, from pre-Columbian times to the rise of global superstar Bad Bunny. While Puerto Rico has been called “the world’s oldest colony,” the talk will also highlight the ways that Puerto Ricans have never accepted colonialism tacitly. Although Puerto Rico is not a sovereign territory, Puerto Ricans have dared to imagine themselves as a nation that is fluid, legally ambiguous, and always on the move. Ultimately, this talk will serve as a primer to those unfamiliar with Puerto Rican history and will focus on why its history matters to understand the United States today.
The first 20 attendees will get a FREE copy of Dr. Meléndez-Badillo's book, "Puerto Rico: A National History"
This program is part of Beyond 250, a series highlighting U.S. history. Find the full program schedule at www.beyondthepage.info/beyond-250
About the presenter:
Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo is associate professor of Latin American and Caribbean History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His latest book is Puerto Rico: A National History (Princeton University Press, 2024) and Interrogating the Future of Puerto Rican Studies, co-edited with Dr. Aurora Santiago Ortiz (Duke University Press, 2026). He recently collaborated with global superstar Bad Bunny by producing seventeen historical narratives that accompanied each song of the artist’s latest record, DTmF, on YouTube. He is also the co-founder and co-director of the Puerto Rican Studies Hub, a new research center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.