The relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico has long been contentious, ever since the Spanish-American War in 1898. Since then, the Caribbean island has been in a strange limbo position between a ‘U.S. Territory’ and unofficially as the world’s oldest colony.

Although they’re U.S. citizens in name and passport, Puerto Rican’s who live in Puerto Rico cannot vote for president, don’t have voting representation in Congress, and have been saddled with a fiscal oversight board (PROMESA) in order to repay its debts—forcing austerity on residents suffering a 23% unemployment rate and a much higher rate of poverty than the incorporated states.

But this week, on Election Day, Puerto Ricans voted—for the sixth time since 1967—on whether they prefer the ongoing territorial status, or to become a U.S. state and the results are in: it’s pro-statehood.

Last week, Puerto Ricans voted to support U.S. statehood.

Puerto Rico voted yes on a nonbinding referendum asking if it should become a U.S. state, reports @AP.

Congress would need to approve statehood.

Puerto Rico is home to over 3 million U.S. citizens who pay federal taxes, but they cannot vote for the president. pic.twitter.com/n6gK7VSkpv

— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 4, 2020

As Puerto Ricans voted on Tuesday for their local leaders, there was another decision they had to make: Whether or not the island territory should be admitted as the newest U.S. state. Although it’s a non-binding referendum and not expected to change Puerto Rico’s status anytime soon, it was still seen as a barometer of Puerto Ricans’ appetite for statehood.

So far, with most of the votes counted, residents narrowly favored statehood with 52% of the vote while about 47% of voters were against it, according to the election commission’s website.

Although the U.S. mainland still sees Puerto Rico as a commonwealth, many Puerto Ricans, including the island’s Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, a Republican, say the island is constantly treated as a colony.

“Sometimes it’s a little bit ironic that the beacon of democracy in the world, which is the United States, is fighting for equality and fighting for democracy and yet you get it in your own backyard — the oldest colony, with more than 120 years without allowing Puerto Rican’s to vote for president, to vote in Congress or to even have federal laws apply equally to American citizens on the island,” said González, who was reelected as commissioner last Tuesday.

But what’s next? There are many obstacles standing in the way.

🇵🇷 Bipartisan support in #Congress for recognizing the results of #PuertoRico's #statehood referendum. #PRstatehood #PRpol https://t.co/RmKPM0djvY

— Scott A. Olson 🦃 (@Scott_A_Olson) November 3, 2020

Even though President-Elect Joe Biden is a backer of statehood, as are top Democrats in the House and Senate and some Florida Republicans, it’s unclear how much of a priority Puerto Rico would be if Democrats take control of both the White House and Congress. The drive is complicated by a separate but often-paired push for statehood for the District of Columbia.

“It is unlikely that the question of Puerto Rico as a state will be taken up by the Congress,” says political scientist and researcher Carlos Vargas Ramos, in an interview with ABC News.

Aside from being a nonbinding referendum, Ramos said voter turnout in this referendum could still be an issue for Congress. As of September 2020, there were around 2.3 million eligible voters on the island, according to the election commission’s website. From those eligible voters, nearly 1.2 million people answered the statehood plebiscite.

“It’s gonna be difficult for advocates of statehood to argue that this is a clear mandate to push for statehood, particularly when you have a Congress that is reluctant to take up the question,” added Vargas Ramos.

Puerto Rican statehood would create consequences far beyond the island.

Although the referendum only dealt with Puerto Rico’s future, it could have ramifications far beyond the territory. Puerto Rican statehood would mean Americans on the island could vote in presidential elections, have quick access to federal aid in crises and gain full representation in Congress.

“Puerto Ricans get treated in many ways like second-class citizens,” U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who has introduced his own bill setting forth a process of admission for the island, said in an interview with ABC News.

In Congress, statehood for Puerto Rico would result in two new senators and four representatives to the House. If the District of Columbia gains statehood at the same time, that would mean another two senators and one additional House member.

The decision could even have implications for travelers to the island.

Right now, about 95 percent of visitors to Puerto Rico come from the U.S., but many in the tourism industry would like to see more international visitors from Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Currently, citizens of the whole of nearby Latin America and the Caribbean require a visa to enter the U.S., and thus Puerto Rico.

And thanks to the pandemic the island has suffered huge losses in tourism dollars. Thelack of control that Puerto Rico has over its own travel regulations means that the industry will have to wait quite a while to make up for that loss, while the U.S. at large continues to be an undesirable destination for international travelers.

The matter is complicated by the Jones Act of 1920, which requires that all goods come to Puerto Rico through the U.S. If this were finally overturned, it would allow direct trade with other nations and decrease the prices of food and other items sold on the island. Right now, travelers looking to the Caribbean can go to the Dominican Republic much more affordably.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty, one thing is clear: things need to change.

@AOC Can we hope to see Puerto Rico and Washington DC become states any time soon? pic.twitter.com/VCrfrnMM6W

— poulingail 🍌 (@poulingail) November 7, 2020

The relationship between the U.S. and its Puerto Rican territory has long been one of violence; independence movements and even the flag have been made illegal in the past by the U.S. This reality is often hidden from travelers, but should be acknowledged and respected.

But where the island goes from here is not a cut-and-dry question, as deep ties have developed over the more than 100 years of colonialism that would require years of change, whether sovereignty were won or statehood were decided upon. 

That moment might be coming: Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez is now trying to push the Puerto Rican Self-Determination Act of 2020, which would form a status convention made up of Puerto Rican voters who would be tasked with deciding upon a long-term solution. In the meantime, travelers should remember that sun, sand, and rum don’t tell the whole story—and that the future of the archipelago should be determined by Puerto Ricans.

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The Latin Grammys are in two weeks and everyone is getting excited to see who takes home the prizes. One artist that has a good chance to take home several prizes is Kany García. The Puerto Rican singer has been nominated in five categories in the Latin Grammys.

Kany García’s latest album racked up several Latin Grammy nominations.

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Amigxs , que alegria tan inmensa compartirles que este 19 de noviembre nos reencontramos en la 21.a Entrega Anual de @latingrammys. No se lo pierdan por @univision. #latingrammy

A post shared by Kany Garcia (@kanygarcia) on Oct 20, 2020 at 6:15am PDT

“Mesa Para Dos” is García’s seventh studio album and is already bringing her more acclaim than she expected. The album was a surprise to everyone, even García. The singer felt a need to stay connected to people while in quarantine and thus “Mesa Para Dos” was born with “zero planning.”

“It was kind of a beautiful madness and I told myself if I don’t release these now that we’re living this reality, with these feelings, I don’t know if when we reopen in November or October I will be able to release this album, in this way,” García told NBC News about the album. “It made sense to me today.”

It’s safe to say that “Mesa Para Dos” is a success.

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Estoy ya volviendo a escuchar #mesaparados porque… debo decidir cual será el siguiente video! que dicen ustedes????

A post shared by Kany Garcia (@kanygarcia) on Oct 6, 2020 at 3:15pm PDT

There is a need for new entertainment as quarantining drags on to consume almost all of 2020. García’s album is feeding that need for new entertainment as production in TV, movies, and music was suspended as we tried to get a handle on the pandemic. The album was a cathartic experience for García, according to her interview with NBC News.

Yet, despite the quarantine, García has managed to produce gold.

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Que es lo más que anhelas de los días pasados?

A post shared by Kany Garcia (@kanygarcia) on Jun 13, 2020 at 1:55pm PDT

Garcías has been nominated in five categories in the 2020 Latin Grammys. García was nominated for Record of the Year with “Lo que en ti veo,” Album of the Year with “Mesa Para Dos,” Song of the Year with “Le que en ti veo,” Best Tropical Song with “Búscame,” and Best Singer-Songwriter Album with “Mesa Para Dos.”

García would not have been able to produce this album under normal circumstances.

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Te imagino en este día en mi sillòn… Pides perdòn. 🖤 #nuevasmentiras #mesaparados #tb

A post shared by Kany Garcia (@kanygarcia) on Jul 3, 2020 at 9:04am PDT

García wrote all of her 10-song album. Each song is a collaboration with another artist including names like Camilo, Reik, and Carlos Vives. García told NBC News that the pandemic created the perfect environment to create this album.

“We were all at home, and all of our calendars were suddenly free, and I used that time to make duets with whoever I wanted, and they all said yes,” García told NBC News.

Congratulations, Kany!

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Alcanzamos las 20 MILLONES DE REPRODUCCIÓNES en el vídeo oficial de TITANIC 🚢 ❤️ @camilo GRACIAS INFINITAS!!!

A post shared by Kany Garcia (@kanygarcia) on Oct 3, 2020 at 10:09am PDT

Best of luck to all of the artists nominated. You can watch the Latin Grammys Nov. 19. Who are you rooting for?

READ: As A Latin Music Fan, Here Are My Picks For The 2020 Latin Grammys

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