The Main Point in Chapter Four of "Harvest of Empire"
The main point in chapter four of the book Harvest of Empire is that despite Puerto Ricans' citizenship status as a member of the US colony, most Americans still view them as aliens (Gonzalez 81).
Puerto Ricans in the Vietnam War
Even though they fought in the Vietnam battles, the Puerto Ricans who took part in the conflict nevertheless went home questioning their status as American heroes.
Escape from Civil Conflicts
When faced with a massacre and extreme poverty as a result of civil conflicts, the author utilizes a personal experience story to explore the reasons why the family fled to New York in pursuit of emancipation (Gonzalez 82).
Challenges in Public Schools
Despite the birth of the second generation in which the author belongs, studying in the public schools in America became difficult as the Puerto Ricans had to choose between the white race and the black community depending on their skin color (Gonzalez 85). In the schools, the individuals from this community still faced difficulties with their white counterparts who mostly considered them as foreigners despite having full citizenship of the US (Gonzalez 87).
Connection to Current Events
The readings connect to the current events in which most of the Latin Americans feel segregated from the Americans despite the legality of their citizenship status. For example, there is a national debate on the frosty relationship between the US and the Mexicans. The migration is controlled through the border which makes some of the Puerto Ricans feel out of pace despite having legal citizenship of the United States. The reason is that most of the members of the Puerto Ricans are considered as foreigners based on their skin complexion which can either incline to the white race or the African Americans. Therefore, it is hard for the citizens having origin from the Latin American territories to have their own identity, as well as a right to equal citizenship in the American society.
Work Cited
Gonzalez, Juan. Chapter 4 Puerto Ricans: Citizens Yet Foreigners Harvest Of Empire. New York: Penguin Books, 2011. Print.
