Puerto Rico wins Album of the Year

Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos won Album of the Year at the Grammy’s last Sunday.

We were on our feet, waiting. And it was emotional when we heard his name. And his image wearing la pava on his head across the large screens on the stage.

Because Benito won, yes. But Puerto Rico also won. Our abuelas. Our campos. Our cafecitos. Our panaderías. We won.

I grew up in Puerto Rico. And I did so glued at the television: MTV, Nickelodeon, etc. We were invisible. I wanted to be a part of the culture I saw on TV.

Now I look at people all over the world posting online about how they are learning the lyrics in Spanish, how they have discovered reggaeton. You see the positivity in the comments. We see each other. We appreciate you discovering and loving our culture.

I am in my forties and it’s the first time that the world I admired growing up, sees me. As I am.

And it feels nice.