Island of Impact: Uncovering Puerto Rico's Untold Story, Global Power, and Fight for Identity

by Dean Huertas

Overview

Puerto Rico's Hidden History and Global Power

In this bold and illuminating debut, Dean Huertas reclaims the erased chapters of Puerto Rican history and challenges readers to embrace the untold impact of a people too often made invisible. Island of Impact is more than a historical account—it’s a vibrant cultural reclamation and a rallying cry for Puerto Ricans everywhere to rediscover pride, purpose, and power.

With raw insight and cultural clarity, Huertas takes readers on a journey across continents and centuries. From Indigenous Caribbean roots to African, European, Asian, and American influences, this book explores how Puerto Rican identity has been shaped by a global web of migration, resilience, and revolution. Blending powerful storytelling with historical analysis, Huertas reveals a legacy far more influential—and far more hidden—than mainstream narratives allow.

This is not just history. It’s healing. It’s empowerment. A must-read for the Puerto Rican diaspora and anyone curious about the legacy of colonization, identity, and cultural resilience, Island of Impact rewrites the narrative and puts the power back in the hands of the people.

Inside, you’ll find:

• A comprehensive yet personal retelling of Puerto Rico’s global connections, from Africa to Asia to the Americas
• Insightful reflection on identity and erasure, and what it means to grow up invisible in your own country’s history
• A vibrant call to action for reclaiming heritage, rewriting history, and standing boldly in your cultural truth

If you liked War Against All Puerto Ricans, When I Was Puerto Rican, or A Nation of Women, then you’ll love Island of Impact.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684818792
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	02/10/2026
Pages:	212
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Dean Huertas has been featured on NBC, CBS, TIME, The New York Times, and will be honored as this year's influencer at the Puerto Rican Parade in New York City. He was born in the Bronx and currently lives in Puerto Rico.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction: Illness Invisibility

I remember being in high school and learning about global history. It was my favorite course; we got a better understanding of how the world works. When it came to the lesson about the Caribbean, I was so excited to learn about my family history and ancestral lineage. But we only discussed the Indigenous people known as the Tainos. That was it.

When I was taking the American history course, I was expecting to learn about Puerto Rico’s history and its impact, as all I was ever taught was that we were “part of the United States.” Throughout the class year, it was never mentioned. It wasn’t my favorite course in high school. The education I was brought up with did an exceptional job at making me feel as if I were a foreigner in this land.

One day in high school, I came to a sudden realization which changed everything I thought I knew about this country’s education system. It is that when one must leave their native land in search for another country to seek their dream or purpose, it is often for the betterment of their life and to be able to provide better opportunities for the future generation. Once they have relocated to this new land, they must adapt to the lifestyle and education and therefore learn about the history of the country. But it is often forgotten that the education system was not made to cater to those who are not native to the land. In result, the foreigner’s history is not taught to them, and they will inevitably begin to feel invisible.

I felt as if I was purely invisible for a long time, as if my people didn’t contribute anything positive to any society or any country; there were no historical figures I could look up to. All I was ever told about my people was something negative: from “Non-Ricans,” movies, and news networks which made us look like the bad guy. I refused to believe it. I felt as if there was something being hidden from me. I wasn’t sure how to begin the process of finding my history until we got the terrible news that my maternal grandmother had passed away. I felt I had lost my greatest direct connection to the archipelago of Puerto Rico.

When it came to the passing of my grandmother, I felt like it was only a matter of days until my family would not want to visit Puerto Rico any longer. So I promised that one day I would move to Puerto Rico, to experience a life outside of New York. As I was in the process of better understanding my heritage, it was as if I found a whole other side to my people’s history. It came by becoming one with the culture and traveling throughout the island. I decided to share this history in a fun manner by making content about these new chapters of my journey. I created a channel on my platform and named it “Puerto Rico Pal Mundo.” In doing so, I was essentially healing the inner high school student that was never taught his own history.

With the complex relationship Puerto Rico shares with the United States, one would believe that Puerto Rican history and education would be implemented into the American system. However, that is not the case. Unfortunately, much of Puerto Rico’s history has been hidden from its own people, both on and off the archipelago. There are a wide range of reasons for why that could be. I would like to provide a solution by collecting all that I have learned from my research and compacting it into a book—one that will not only provide the average Puerto Rican their own history, but will cure them of their invisibility and help them feel seen rather than feeling stuck as they dig for the answer of why we aren’t taught our history.

That being said, allow me show you what “De Puerto Rico para el Mundo” truly means by presenting you the Island of Impact.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Illness of Invisibility

• The Raiz and roots
• Why this book will help remedy Puerto Rican invisibility

Chapter 1: The Caribbean

• Taino people, colonial division, impacts and cultural exchange throughout history with the Caribbean
• Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, etc.

Chapter 2: European Exchange

• Spanish rule, “Real Cedula” exchange with various European countries
• Spain, England, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy

Chapter 3: North America 

• Turtle Island, times of revolution, Puerto Rican presence in North America
• Mexico, USA, Canada, Greater Antilles of the Caribbean

Chapter 4: Central America

• Development, solidarity exchanges in Central America, Roberto Clemente
• Nicaragua, Honduras, and Panama

Chapter 5: South America

• Taino roots, Simon Bolivar & Bernabe, infrastructure, astronomy, hospitals
• Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile

Chapter 6: Mother Africa

• African cultural roots and presence in the modern Puerto Rican identity
• Canary Islands, Nigeria, Congo, Morocco, Cameroon

Chapter 7: Asian Impact

• Asian population in Puerto Rico, infrastructure and road development, agriculture
• China, Japan

Chapter 8: The Cure

• We are taught to doubt ourselves when our ancestors have made a global impact. We carry the key to our future. Our greatest opponent is ourselves. Don’t let others tell you who you are. This book is the proof that you are not invisible!