Watered-Down Bloodline; A Puerto Rican Dilemma

About Puerto Rican ethnic cleansing and next to nil existence by way of genocide and ignorance. Puerto Ricans must get a grip on traditions to keep them relevant for future generations; It's not all about the food and salsa dancing! The use of the Spanish language is a good start...

TAINOGENOCIDEPUERTO RICANTRADITIONSETHNIC CLEANSING

Illya Burke

2/8/20255 min read

Fifteen percent. That’s all that remains of actual Taino ancestry nowadays. Think about that. The heritage of the Puerto Rican people can now be summed up as a “watered-down bloodline.” A blending, they say. A fusion. But what does that truly mean? It means that our Taino roots, the very essence of who we are, have been diluted over time—spanning across generations of Spanish, African, and Indigenous Taino lineages. And that’s what we get: a diluted history, a watered-down identity.

Just a drop in a bucket. That’s what’s left of the Taino. The Spanish colonization crushed the Taino population. Diseases, enslavement, and conflicts nearly wiped them off the map. And now? Now, studies suggest the genetic contribution of Taino blood to Puerto Ricans is a sad 10-15%. That’s it. But that doesn’t even tell the whole story. The intermarriage, the generations of mixing, from the Taino with the Spanish colonizers and African slaves… it's what created us today. This complicated history, this blend, is supposed to be celebrated, right? Well, I guess so. But it’s just a little too convenient to ignore that it’s been largely erased. We're living with the remnants of something great that was almost destroyed.

The melting pot is full of history, sure—but don’t mistake this diverse lineage for a glorious triumph. Let’s not sugarcoat the reality: Puerto Rican blood is about 60% European, 25% African, and a mere 15% Taino. And that Taino? It’s mostly been watered down, diluted, absorbed into every mix imaginable. So when people say “we are Boricua,” I have to ask: which Boricua are we talking about? The one who fought for survival? The one who was lost along the way?

Where are the reservations? Where’s the acknowledgment of the Taino people, who were once the proud, sovereign indigenous group of Puerto Rico? Oh wait—there are none. Puerto Rico, unlike many parts of the United States, has no reservations for its Indigenous people. Why? Because when the Taino population dwindled from European contact, they were essentially wiped off the map in the eyes of the colonizers. And now? Puerto Rico is still a U.S. territory, with no clear path for true acknowledgment or protection for its Indigenous descendants. No sovereignty. No recognition. No land to call home, in the same way that other native groups can at least hold on to something. It’s infuriating. And don’t get me started on the cultural erasure, the hurdles to reclaiming what’s left. The Taino spirit is alive, but it’s suffocated by legal barriers. Some people try to revive the culture, sure—through art, music, and spiritual practices—but the struggle to get true recognition feels endless.

It gets to a point where you can’t help but ask: how much longer can we hold on to what’s left of this identity? There’s always someone watering it down, diluting it. Imagine this: a Boricua has a child with someone from Pakistan. That child’s Taino ancestry? It’s half of that 10 or 15 percent. What’s left of it? I’m not trying to hate here; I’m just speaking facts. No need to panic, it’s not hate speech, relax. I’m just pointing out the truth, the realities of the situation. And those who still identify as Boricua? It’s up to us to keep the Borinquen identity alive. Point blank. We can’t let it slip away.

At least there’s a resurgence of Taino culture happening today. Thank goodness for that. Puerto Ricans are re-embracing their Indigenous roots—through art, music, language, and traditions. It’s not all lost. But don’t kid yourself into thinking it’s easy. It’s a fight to keep the culture, to preserve the legacy. The Taino spirit is here, but it’s going to take work to make sure the next generation doesn’t forget. Education has to start at home. We can't rely on schools to teach our true history, especially not with all the political nonsense going around these days. Parents, you’re key in making sure our children understand the Taino resistance, their survival, and the beauty of our heritage. Without that foundation, we risk losing even more of it.

Moving forward, Puerto Ricans need to understand that their heritage is complicated. It’s not just about food, music, or dancing. It’s about recognizing where we come from—the full, unfiltered history. A history that’s been hidden, erased, diluted. That "watered-down bloodline" is real, but it’s not the full picture. It’s about exploring our roots, understanding that we are a mix of cultures, and appreciating every part of that mix. Yes, we are the descendants of Spanish colonizers, African slaves, and the Taino. But at the end of the day, the Taino blood that remains within us is a testament to resilience, survival, and a never-give-up spirit. So, let’s remember that. Let’s honor it. Because ignorance continues to tighten its grip as Puerto Ricans keep navigating farther away from their origins, making its future even more bleak. Granted we're in a whole new millennium, but that's part of what makes this plea all the more relevant! We have to preserve who we are as a people; because the echoes of our ancestors are still with us—whether we acknowledge them or not.

Please refer to the infographic and PLEASE, by all means, share this where applicable.

AcknowledgementS

https://comparecaribbean.org/puerto-rico-history
https://www.reference.com/world-view/timeline-first-settlements-america-tracing-nation-s-roots
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58996186
https://urls.grow.me/5eVA5rEBd
https://www.science.org/content/article/first-viking-settlement-north-america-dated-exactly-1000-years-ago
https://www.scienceabc.com/humans/why-did-the-vikings-cease-their-expeditions-to-north-america-after-establishing-early-settlements.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Norse_colonization_of_the_Americas#Norse_colonization
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Viking-people
https://welcome.topuertorico.org/history.shtml

Information extracted from these sources have significantly enhanced the depth and accuracy of the content shared here.

maybe this is why we are such good dancers 🤣

*Before some readers fly off the handle and accuse one of ignoring African ANCESTRY, please know: there's over 1000 languages spoken on the continent of Africa and it is practically impossible to track where those origins lie.