On Friday Unhealthy Bunny launched the music video for “El Apagón.” Just like the music, the almost 23-minute brief movie serves as a love letter to the island that made him.
And just like the music, it paperwork the various indignities and gringaderas lengthy endured by Puerto Ricans, punctuated and outlined by the mini-documentary by unbiased journalist Bianca Graulau embedded within the music video.
Graulau’s reporting touches on the continued exploitation of Puerto Rico by varied entities, whether or not it's a Canadian-American vitality firm that took over the facility grid after Hurricane Maria hit 5 years in the past, or rich U.S. residents who've moved to the island to reap the benefits of tax advantages not obtainable to those that reside there. The consequence has been gentrification and displacement, the restriction of public seashores, and frequent blackouts regardless of excessive vitality payments.
The failures of the restoration post-Maria got here to roost on Sunday when Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico and the island as soon as once more discovered itself plunged into darkness with out energy.
What makes “El Apagón” stand out — moreover the truth that the world’s greatest artist is producing journalism — is that it seems like a warning. The music video gives a snapshot of Puerto Rico within the aftermath of Maria, which might very properly be what the island seems like after Fiona.
Credit score to my fellow journalists for his or her reporting on Puerto Rico — I notably appreciated this New York Occasions piece about residents banding collectively and never ready on authorities assist — however a lot of the protection has been reactionary, and it pales compared to the protection that the dying of Queen Elizabeth II obtained.
In opposition to my will, I do know extra concerning the line of succession than any regular particular person ought to.
Kudos to Unhealthy Bunny for utilizing his large platform to lift consciousness about what’s occurring in Puerto Rico (as of this writing, the music video has amassed greater than 6.5 million views on YouTube), and for giving Graulau’s invaluable reporting a lot wanted visibility.
However it shouldn’t fall on Unhealthy Bunny to make us look and care.
Need to assist Puerto Rico however don’t understand how? My colleague Karen Garcia has put collectively this helpful information of grassroots organizations taking donations.
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Issues we learn this week that we expect you need to learn
—Again in January, I wrote concerning the work that Graulau has been doing in Puerto Rico. You'll find that right here.
— For the Atlantic, Jaquira Díaz wrote an essay advocating for Puerto Rico’s independence. And whereas I don’t really feel certified to touch upon what ought to be the destiny of Puerto Rico, this half felt notably true:
“There is no such thing as a benevolent American savior coming to assist Puerto Rico. Each day, individuals see that there's solely them, doing every thing for themselves. Each day, extra of them come to know that Puerto Rico has at all times stood by itself.”
— I think I’ll be devoting house in subsequent week’s e-newsletter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ merciless and heartless political stunt of flying Venezuelan asylum seekers to Martha’s Winery, particularly now that a lawsuit in opposition to DeSantis and different state officers has been filed, however I did wish to draw consideration to this Miami Herald story concerning the response to the information by the Venezuelan diaspora in South Florida.
—The parents over at Vox have launched “The facility and potential of Latino voters,” a collection of tales that discover and study the political energy and affect of the Latinx citizens forward of the midterms. The collection covers subjects like misinformation, in addition to profiles of politicians like Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego.
—In case you missed it: L.A. Occasions Meals has put collectively a complete bundle on basic Cal-Mex eating places, which incorporates a stirring protection of the delicacies by columnist Gustavo Arellano, a behind-the-scene have a look at how Tito’s Tacos makes its onerous shell tacos, and a map of favourite Cal-Mex eating places throughout Los Angeles.
—Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías is as soon as once more having an amazing season. For Column One, sports activities author Jorge Castillo headed all the way down to Culiacán to be taught extra concerning the Mexican phenom’s origin story.
— On Tuesday, the U.S. Home of Representatives voted in favor of constructing the Blackwell Faculty in Marfa, Texas, a nationwide park website. In February, my former colleague Molly Hennessy-Fiske reported on the historical past of the segregated faculty, the place for many years Mexican American college students have been paddled for talking Spanish.
— What are you doing on Sept. 27? In case your reply is “nothing,” then you need to completely be a part of the L.A. Occasions Guide Membership because it hosts a dialog with creator Silvia Moreno-Garcia, who can be discussing her newest novel “The Daughter of Physician Moreau” with Occasions editor Steve Padilla. The occasion is digital and you'll enroll right here.
— The Los Angeles Occasions is bringing again the Dia de Muertos altar. I’ll share extra particulars shortly, however within the meantime, our podcast crew has requested me to place out a callout to readers who want to document an audio ofrenda. If that is you, name (619) 800-0717 and depart us a voicemail telling us who you might be, the place you reside, and an anecdote about your misplaced beloved one that you simply’d wish to share.
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