In just 13 minutes, a young Puerto Rican named Benito thwarted Trump’s official narrative as well as his vision of America. That’s how long it took superstar Bad Bunny to help Americans realize we are a truly diverse nation, and how that fact is a cause for celebration. Bad Bunny’s hits-packed Super Bowl act was a teachable moment of Puerto Rican culture, the territory’s socioeconomic struggles, and the joy of being Latino. Though it contained a host of historical references and symbolism, the halftime show did not embody any overt political messages, but for one: love conquers hate.
In an arguably dystopian time, where we are hearing of deaths of citizens by Department of Homeland Security officials and in ICE custody, a young Puerto Rican sang in Spanish and caused a cultural moment, perhaps even a movement. Bad Bunny in 13 minutes both entertained and educated millions. He taught us that Puerto Ricans, as inhabitants of a U.S. colony, are just as American as Donald or Melania Trump. In doing so, he celebrated our country’s rich diversity, and that indeed is one of the primary reasons that America is great!
In a time where cities like Minneapolis resemble war zones caused by the overzealous actions of DHS officials, such as their killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which in turn became flashpoints for protest, Bad Bunny brought us back to the prophetic words of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who coined the reference: “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Indeed, by ending with a celebration of the flags of the Americas, Bad Bunny reminded us that America is more than the sum of its parts. For those within this country, it was a powerful moment when millions of non-Spanish speaking Americans swayed to Bad Bunny’s music and hummed his hard-to-understand lyrics (even for some Latinos who may not know the cultural context). The United States of America is — and has always been — a beautiful mosaic of cultures.
Bad Bunny’s MAGA detractors loudly complained about his use of the Spanish language, which is spoken by millions of Puerto Ricans (who are natural-born citizens of the United States) and scores of millions of others in the United States. Like many beautiful tunes sung in a foreign language, Bad Bunny’s songs are to be enjoyed in their native Spanish. (The United States has the second-largest cohort of Spanish speakers in the world — after Mexico.)
More disturbingly, some MAGA cultural warriors claimed to be disgusted by Bad Bunny’s suggestive dancing and called for his censorship, harking back to the 1950s, when emerging superstar Elvis Presley was shot by TV cameras from the waist up during his appearance at the Ed Sullivan show. Yet the “disgusted” MAGA crowd remains mum regarding Kid Rock’s awful lyrics (when he actually sings them), or Trump’s disturbing past or even his dehumanizing immigration enforcement policies, or the killings of two U.S. citizens by ICE agents — just as conservatives in the 1950s looked the other way as African Americans were subjected to ignominious racial discrimination and targeted violence by white supremacists. Indeed, Trump’s recent depiction of former president Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama remind us that perhaps only some things have changed, especially when we observed Trump refusing to apologize for his shameful act.
While as Puerto Ricans, we have written for decades on the colonial subordinate status of Puerto Ricans and perhaps educated a handful, yet in 13 minutes, Bad Bunny beautifully educated over 135 million watching that Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, and all Latinos and Latinas in this country (and throughout the Americas) just like all watching the Super Bowl, have beautiful and rich cultures.
We believe that despite the too-often hateful xenophobic vitriol of his conservative critics, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl act trumped MAGA, highlighting the power of love, culture, and pride. Perhaps the young man even started a movement that represents a turning point for this country: an era of inclusivity, of love, and hope for Latinos and others reeling from Trump’s anti-immigration policies.
Ediberto Roman is a professor of law and director of immigration and citizenship initiatives at Florida International University. Ernesto Sagas is a professor of ethnic studies at Colorado State.