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| Dr. Martinez reveals many facts about the extent and
depth of African culture in Puerto Rico. The effect of various African
ethnic groups such as the Yoruba on religion, language, music, food and
other areas of the Puerto Rican culture are detailed.
The enslavement of Africans in Puerto Rico is compared and contrasted with slavery in other Caribbean countries and the United States, and the facts Dr. Martinez points out are will surprise many people. He maintains, and provides details, that the close contact Spain had with Africans prior to the Transatlantic Slave Trade was a primary factor in the way the Spaniards related to African slaves in Puerto Rico. Essentially, Dr. Martinez states and proves that the African tradition has substantially influenced all aspects of Puerto Rican culture such as the arts, politics, and education. He concludes with a comparison of the primacy of racial labeling in Puerto Rico, the United States, and elsewhere. |