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Boricuation is the combination of two words . . .Boricua and Education.

Boricuation is dedicated to educating the public on Puerto Rican history, culture and social issues affecting the Boricua populace. With a focus on our youth, family and community our goal is to make positive change through action, education and the arts by Puerto Ricans.


A Puerto Rican is a Puerto Rican

Whether the individual is born in Puerto Rico, Texas, or California this fact is a manifestation of Puerto Rican pride that is evident world-wide.

Puerto Rican People reflect the varied physical and cultural heritage of the different groups that have mixed together to create the island’s population: The original indigenous inhabitants Taíno people, European settlers (mainly from Spain), and Africans. As a result, Puerto Ricans range across the full spectrum of skin colors.

The Puerto Rican experience presents many differences from the traditional ways people in the United States are accustomed to understanding race.

Puerto Ricans, who also commonly refer to themselves as “Boricuas”, are largely the descendants of Taíno, Europeans, Africans or a blend of these groups which has produced a very diversified population. The population of Puerto Ricans and descendants is estimated to be between 8 to 10 million worldwide, with most living within the islands of Puerto Rico, Central Florida, Chicago Metropolitan Area and in New York City – where there is a large Nuyorican community.

The American Community Survey (2009) estimates give a total of 3,859,026 Puerto Ricans classified as “Native” Puerto Ricans. It also gives a total of 3,644,515 (91.9%) of the population being born in Puerto Rico and 201,310 (5.1%) born in the United States. The total population born outside Puerto Rico is 322,773 (8.1%).

Source: Wikipedia


Puerto Ricans often proudly identify themselves as Boricua (formerly also spelled Boriquén, Borinquén, or Borinqueño), derived from the Taíno word Boriken, to illustrate their recognition of the island’s original Taíno heritage. The word Boriken translates to “The great land of the valiant and noble Lord“. Borikén was used by the original Taíno population to refer to the island of Puerto Rico before the arrival of the Spanish. The use of the word Boricua has been popularized in the island and abroad by descendants of Puerto Rican heritage, commonly using the phrase Yo soy Boricua (“I am Boricua”) to identify themselves as Puerto Ricans. Other variations which are also widely used are Borinqueño and Borincano, meaning “from Borinquen”.


Puerto Rican Influence

Puerto Ricans have preserved their cultural heritage by being involved actively in the different political and social rights movements in the United States. They founded “Aspira“, a leader in the field of education, was established in New York City in 1961 and is now one of the largest national Latino nonprofit organizations in the United States. Other educational and social organizations founded by Puerto Ricans in New York and else where are the Young Lords, National Puerto Rican Coalition in Washington, D.C., the National Puerto Rican Forum, the Puerto Rican Family Institute, Boricua College, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies of the City University of New York at Hunter College, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, and the New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc., among many others.