https://youtu.be/0se5gQZAN7I?si=UQWlwLQL9i1K7yPE
https://mronline.org/2026/02/11/why-bad-bunny-matters/
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Millions Are Losing Interest in Everything… America Has Changed
Why Bad Bunny matters
On Sunday night at Super Bowl LX, one of the most-watched cultural events in the United States became a platform not just for music but for identity, history, and political symbolism. Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, headlined the halftime show—the first solo Latin artist to do so primarily in Spanish on that stage. But for many Puerto Ricans and those familiar with colonial history, his performance carried meanings that extended far beyond pop culture.
This moment was deliberate. Bad Bunny’s artistry has consistently incorporated Puerto Rican history, resilience, and struggles into his music and visuals. His recent album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, contains numerous references to Puerto Rican independence and cultural pride, including imagery of the sky-blue Puerto Rican flag, historically associated with the independence movement. Even Ricky Martin made an appearance, singing Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawai’i, a song about why Puerto Rico should not become a state (so as not to suffer the fate of Hawai’i). In the music video for La Mudanza, Benito is seen running across a field while holding the sky-blue flag and being chased by colonial police, a strong homage to a national symbol that once risked persecution and arrest in Puerto Rico at the hands of the United States.
This flag, which differs from the more familiar red-white-navy blue version adopted officially in 1952, holds profound historical importance. In the first half of the 20th century, laws such as Law 53 of 1948, known as the Ley de la Mordaza or the Gag Law, criminalized the ownership, display, or discussion of the Puerto Rican flag or independence. These actions were punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and heavy fines, effectively suppressing expressions of national identity during colonial times.
Flying this flag today or spotting it on a prominent stage carries deep significance. For Puerto Ricans aware of that history, it symbolizes more than just decor: it is an act of remembrance, patriotism, and resistance. It highlights how, for decades, even symbols of Puerto Rican national identity were criminalized through laws established during U.S. colonial rule.
Why This Matters to Puerto Ricans and Americans Alike
In the United States, discussions about Puerto Rico often rely on simple either-or ideas: statehood or territory, American or non-American. These views hide a deeper reality: Puerto Rico is a nation with its own language, culture, and political traditions—different from the United States, even though it remains linked to it through a colonial relationship. Puerto Ricans acquired U.S. citizenship in 1917 without their consent, a single and unilateral act by Congress designed to draft Puerto Rican men into World War I. This forced inclusion did not erase Puerto Rican nationality. Nor should citizenship be confused with national identity. A people’s identity is built on history, culture, and self-determination, not on a foreign citizenship imposed by an occupying power.
Bad Bunny’s artistic choices, from his Spanish-focused performances to the specific symbols he emphasizes, reflect these deeper currents. His decision to release an album and perform in Spanish, along with his avoidance of the continental U.S. due to concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlights how art and politics intersect for many Puerto Ricans.
Language, Identity, and Resistance
Performing in Spanish on the largest domestic stage in American sports history challenges typical stories about assimilation. In the U.S., a country that has sometimes idealized “English-only” and assimilation policies, Spanish has often been seen as a sign of “otherness.” However, for millions of Spanish speakers across the hemisphere, it is a powerful expression of identity. Bad Bunny’s performance did not seek translation or approval; it boldly asserted its presence.
In many ways, this reflects Puerto Rico’s larger struggle with cultural recognition and pride. Puerto Rican history includes colonial efforts to suppress the language, flag, and political identity. Seeing Puerto Rican culture confidently displayed on a national broadcast in vivid color—with chants of Wepa, jíbaro clothing highlighted, and symbols rooted in local traditions—challenges a long history of erasure and marginalization.
The Super Bowl as a Symbolic Battleground
The political reactions to Bad Bunny’s appearance reveal the underlying tensions. Some conservative politicians and commentators publicly questioned his “Americanness” or criticized his politics. Others staged alternative performances to highlight a narrow view of American culture. Still, widespread support, especially among younger and Hispanic Americans, shows a connection that goes beyond simple pop spectacle.
More than just entertainment, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance sparked a conversation about belonging, representation, and historical memory. For many Puerto Ricans, seeing their flag, particularly a version associated with long-suppressed nationalism, and their Spanish language celebrated in such a prominent setting, affirms that their national identity is acknowledged and visible around the world.
What This Moment Says to Americans
For U.S. audiences unfamiliar with Puerto Rico’s colonial history or the significance of its sky-blue flag, this performance raises awareness. It urges viewers to move beyond basic labels such as “American artist” (which he is not) and to explore a deeper, more intricate sense of Puerto Rican national identity. It asks Americans not to claim that Benito is “American” just because he is also a U.S. citizen; it asks them to see him for what he really is—a Puerto Rican. The artwork demonstrates the link between culture and politics, highlighting how music can evoke a people’s history in contexts that might otherwise remain silent.
When Bad Bunny takes the stage, he embodies more than international stardom. He represents a legacy of resilience: a history of a nation that faced flag prohibitions, political repression, and centuries of colonization—a nation still striving to survive and gain its freedom. Through his music and symbols, he conveys a clear and impactful message to audiences, both Puerto Rican and American, that no flag, language, or identity rooted in resistance ever truly disappears.
The United States should start viewing Puerto Rico not as an afterthought or a colonial backwater, but as a nation in its own right—with a history and national identity that do not need approval from power to be recognized, loved, and appreciated. As more Puerto Ricans realize that independence is the best path for Puerto Rico (now over 43 percent support and growing), Americans, both liberals and conservatives, should take note and support Puerto Rico’s freedom.
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