The Cost of Belonging

Why Puerto Rico’s Political Status Is a Civil Rights Issue

Abstract

This article analyzes the political and personal dimensions of belonging through one Puerto Rican student as he constructs his identity in mainland United States. From lived experience, "The Cost of Belonging" describes colonial histories, immigration, language, and displacements that structure the sense of self and community. Using an interdisciplinary approach combining narrative reflection and social critique, this article puts into relief the emotional and systemic challenges of assimilation, biculturalism, and invisibility. The article describes Latinx studies, immigration, and student scholarship discourse by highlighting a bilingual, first-person voice that traditionally has been excluded from academic dialogue.