Hello everyone,

Puerto Rico: Open Your Eyes was created with a simple purpose: to inform, educate, and encourage meaningful conversations about Puerto Rico’s history, present realities, and future possibilities.

Every week, we share videos, articles, research, and commentary designed to explore topics that are often overlooked or rarely discussed. Our goal is not to tell people what to think, but to encourage people to ask questions, seek information, and stay engaged.

As many of you know, social media platforms can change overnight. Algorithms decide what content reaches people, and important information can easily get lost.

That is why we have established our community on Substack.

Substack allows us to communicate directly with our audience, share updates, publish research, and continue important conversations without relying solely on social media platforms.

Subscribing is free. However, if you value the work we are doing, we invite you to consider becoming a Supporting Member for just $5 per month.

Your membership helps us continue creating content, conducting research, expanding our outreach, and growing a community dedicated to education, dialogue, and civic engagement.

The stronger our community becomes on Substack, the less dependent we are on any single platform to stay connected.

If you would like to support our work and stay informed, please look for the link in the description below and join our community today.

Stay informed with our latest articles, research, commentary, podcast updates, and special announcements delivered directly to your inbox.

Join our Substack community at:

https://puertoricoopenyoureyes.substack.com/

Thank you for your support and for being part of our growing community.

I am Edwin Ortiz, and this is Puerto Rico: Open Your Eyes.

Until next time.

Mantente informado con nuestros más recientes artículos, investigaciones, análisis, actualizaciones del podcast y anuncios especiales, enviados directamente a tu correo electrónico.

🔗 Únete a nuestra comunidad en Substack:

https://puertoricoopenyoureyes.substack.com/

✅ Suscríbete gratis

✅ Recibe actualizaciones directamente en tu correo electrónico

✅ Mantente conectado incluso cuando cambien los algoritmos de las redes sociales

✅ Apoya investigaciones independientes y contenido educativo

Si crees en el trabajo que estamos realizando, te invitamos a considerar convertirte en Miembro Colaborador por solo $5 al mes. Tu apoyo nos ayuda a seguir creando contenido, realizando investigaciones, ampliando nuestro alcance y manteniendo vivas estas importantes conversaciones.

Juntos podemos construir una comunidad más fuerte, que no dependa de una sola plataforma de redes sociales para mantenerse conectada e informada.

Gracias por formar parte de nuestra creciente comunidad.

Yo soy Edwin Ortiz y esto es Puerto Rico: Abre los Ojos.

#PuertoRicoAbreLosOjos #PuertoRico #Historia #Educación #Substack

When we think of the American cowboy, images of Texas ranches, the Wild West, cattle drives, and Hollywood movies often come to mind. Yet few people realize that the roots of this iconic figure can be traced back to Spain. It was the Spanish who reintroduced the horse to the Americas, brought cattle ranching traditions, and established the first horseback livestock operations across vast territories of the New World. From these traditions emerged the vaquero, whose name comes from the Spanish word vaca (cow), and who became the direct predecessor of the American cowboy. Over time, Mexico further developed and refined this vaquero culture, adding techniques, clothing, and customs that were later adopted by Anglo-American settlers throughout the American Southwest. The result was a cultural transformation that turned the cowboy into one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States. The story of the cowboy, therefore, does not belong exclusively to one nation; it is the product of a shared heritage that began in Spain, evolved in Mexico, and achieved worldwide fame in the United States. It is a fascinating reminder that cultures travel, adapt, and leave lasting influences in places where many people least expect them.