In today’s media-saturated society, constant exposure to various forms of media can harmfully stereotype Puerto Ricans, potentially leading to their social exclusion. Sui and Paul (2017) analyzed media depictions of Latinos using articles from diverse local newspapers, finding Puerto Ricans consistently portrayed negatively compared to whites, despite frequent coverage. Similarly, Llorèns (2018) studied Puerto Ricans and their portrayal in media through the lens of Hurricane Maria. Llorèns (2018) found that media portrayals focused on the “powerless” people narrative, showing people without electrical power pushed further into social, economic, and political powerlessness. Llorèns also points out that these negative depictions of Puerto Ricans in the media influence the audience and how they view Puerto Ricans. Constantly depicting Latinos through negative stereotypes demonstrates the idea that Puerto Ricans are constantly in need of assistance of some sort (Rodriguez 2010).
Carrying bananas to the market, Puerto Rico by Boston Public Library from Picryl. PDM 1.0
To go against the negative stereotype rhetoric, in her 2018 analysis, Gonzalez-Sobrino scrutinized media portrayals of Latinos, particularly Puerto Ricans, in the New York Times, revealing that they are not depicted as a threat to other Latinx or white populations (Gonzalez-Sobrino 2018). Although Puerto Ricans are portrayed in a negative light, they are also a part of the Latino community which will make it so that any stereotypes associated with Latinos are still related to Puerto Ricans. Latino portrayal can vary but the negative representation is consistent and harmful to the Latino community as a whole. Media representations of Puerto Ricans amidst gentrification in Puerto Rico shape public perception, often reinforcing negative stereotypes despite their frequent coverage, yet there’s potential for nuanced narratives to challenge these stereotypes and foster a more accurate understanding of their experiences within the broader Latino community.