Puerto Rican Culture Development within the New York Diaspora

640 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Puerto Rican migration to the USA

According to census research at Lehman College (1), during 1945 to the 1950’s more than half a million Puerto Rican natives migrated to several parts of the USA, originally from their own homeland, Puerto Rico. Several of the locations that Puerto Ricans migrated to include Chicago, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City. One of the cities that experienced a large boom of Puerto Rican population was New York. This period was known as the “Great Migration” and had several factors that led to the mass migration. Some of these major events include the 1917 signing of the Jones-Shafroth Act by Woodrow Wilson, and the Great Depression. Afterwards, Puerto Ricans were permanent citizens of the US From these events. This still poses the questions as to why did a large portion of Puerto Ricans decide to migrate to the US, how did Puerto Ricans develop their identities in New York after the migration and what effect it had towards New York. As we know currently, Puerto Ricans currently are permanent citizens of the United States, but some years before, Puerto Ricans didn’t even have citizenship in the US. It all started at the end of the Spanish – American War in 1898, when Spain and the United States met in order to sign the Treaty of Paris, which would officially end the war that the US and Spain were having. This also led to the acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. Further on in time, Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth act, which gave Puerto Ricans Citizenship towards the United States. This is one of the first major steps the US took towards welcoming Puerto Ricans outside of their homeland. Now they had another place to call home instead of Puerto Rico. Later on, the Great Depression hit the United S... ... middle of paper ... ...hborhood was largely populated by Puerto Ricans also, so a community of equivalent ethnicities also led to Puerto Ricans moving there, because nothing had to be changed language wise, and culture wise. Everything was basically the same, which made it easier for them to transition from Puerto Rico to a New York lifestyle. This also came with a negative. Puerto Ricans had to live in torn up, raggedy buildings with racist Landlords that denied some Puerto Ricans from living in their buildings, so some Puerto Ricans had to keep their identity private in order to not risk being evicted. During this time, many Puerto Ricans decided to migrate over also because the US started to climb out of the great depression that it was in, with the help of the New Deal. Jobs started to arise again and it gave migrants the chance to find work and a chance to change their social status.

Show More
Related

  • Puerto Rican Identity and Spanish Colonial Rule

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    The debate on Puerto Rican Identity is a hot bed of controversy, especially in today’s society where American colonialism dominates most of the island’s governmental and economic policies. The country wrestles with the strong influence of its present day colonizers, while it adamantly tries to retain aspects of the legacy of Spanish colonialism. Despite America’s presence, Puerto Ricans maintain what is arguably their own cultural identity which seems largely based on the influence of Spain mixed with customs that might have developed locally.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico in a Historical and Cultural Context

    1681 Words  | 4 Pages

    By tracing the roots of Puerto Rican development from the Spanish invasion to today, one can see the influence of the dominant power in the interaction between different races of Puerto Rico, effecting how they viewed each other, and themselves. Isabel’s family, which is composed of Spanish and Corsican immigrants, reflects the attitudes that helped form Puerto Rican racial divisions. While she speaks from the point of view of a member of the upper class, there is a great deal of history behind the attitudes that influence the House on the Lagoon that she only lightly touches upon. Although Puerto Rican society has been racially mixed, issues such as class, imperialism, and outside prejudices have created a split between the different races.

    Read More

  • The Young Lords of New York

    4017 Words  | 9 Pages

    For us to clearly understand the Young Lords, it must be understood how the Puerto Rican Community came to be in New York City and other American cities such as Newark and Chicago. With the Spanish American War of 1898 came added difficulty for the population of Puerto Rico. Recently acquired by the United States, citizens of Puerto Rico were actually citizens of nowhere until granted statutory citizenship to the United States in 1917. Yet three years earlier, on 12 March 1914 the citizens of Puerto Rico opposing this imposition of American citizenship sent a "Memorandum to the President and Congress of the United States" stating, " We firmly and loyally oppose our being declared, against our express will or without our express content, citizens of any other than our own beloved country which God granted to us as an inalienable gift and incoercible right."[5]

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico Should Be The 51st State Essay

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Island political status has been an issue over many years since Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth “Free Associated State of P.R” of the US. In fact, Puerto Rico became a US territory in 1898, when it was earned from Spain after the Spanish-American War. It gave Puerto Ricans the right

    Read More

  • The Different Experience of Puerto Ricans' Migration to the United States

    1840 Words  | 4 Pages

    When Puerto Ricans migrated to the United States they did it in two major waves. The first wave of emigration occurred in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The second wave occurred from the 1940s to the present. The workings of Bernando Vega and Jose Cruz deal with the different generations of Puerto Ricans that these two waves brought to the United States. While Vega discusses the early emigration of Puerto Ricans to New York City, Cruz discusses the later emigration of Puerto Ricans to Connecticut. Each author describes a different Puerto Rican experience in the United States. The experiences differed in most aspects; from the context in which each wave of emigration occurred to the type of politics that was practiced.

    Read More

  • The Role of Music in Puerto Rican Popular Culture

    1537 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Role of Music in Puerto Rican Popular Culture What is Puerto Rican music like? Where did it develop, and when did it develop? What makes it so good? These are very valid questions for anyone who does not know anything about Puerto Rican music or Latin music in general.

    Read More

  • Immigration in New York

    3664 Words  | 8 Pages

    As a first generation immigrant this topic is dear to my heart, because I know it first hand. This paper will deal with the history of immigration in New York, specifically the later part of the twentieth century. I will look at the history of this great city and how it impacted us, and how Immigrants have contributed to its mystique, color and vibrancy. I will also discuss specific neighborhoods, the people who live there, and their impact on the economy. I will also discuss the recent anti-immigration trend like Proposition 187.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rican Music and Its Significance

    1585 Words  | 4 Pages

    Spanish music didn’t mean a thing to me growing up, nor did Puerto Rican musicians. I remember listening to Spanish music and not understanding a word that the artists would sing about, but I do remember dancing on my father’s feet to the beat. Though I was a little off beat and stumbling over my feet, I had a great time trying to move. We generally listened to various artists on special occasions, in the car while sight seeing the suburbs and after church on Sundays. Though I dreaded to listen to Spanish music, I had no choice but to because my parents always did. I detested Spanish music in my younger years because I lacked the knowledge of the language. I never realized that Spanish music had a great influence on the Puerto Rican population. As Glasser mentioned, she herself was in the process of just beginning to learn about Spanish music, as I am in the process of. She states, "My Spanish needed a great deal of work, and my musical training was minimal" (p.xviii, Glasser).

    Read More

  • Ellis Island

    1702 Words  | 4 Pages

    On December 31, 1890 a transition in history occured. New York City would start a new era in the history of the United States starting with the opening of Ellis Island as an immigration depo. This attracted many immigrants to the United Stated because of more job opportunities and as means to start a new life. As more immigrants came to America, it began to be known as the "land of opportunities". Immigrants coming in filled work spaces in industries with the hopes of someday becoming successful. These immigrants helped prove to other future immigrants that if you moved to America then you could start a better life for yourself and your families. On the other hand with positives come negatives and there were many involving immigration.

    Read More

  • Spanish Colonialism and Puerto Rican Identity

    1667 Words  | 4 Pages

    In order to understand the current situation of Puerto Ricans one must look at their history and retrace the sequence of events that led to the current formation of the Puerto Rican people. An important component of this history is the time Puerto Rico spent under Spanish rule. Studying this portion of Puerto Rican history forces us to acknowledge the contribution the Spaniards, European immigrants, and African slaves had on Puerto Rican identity as we consider it today. This also addresses contemporary debates on Puerto Rican identity. An example of this is evident in an essay written by Jose Luis Gonzales entitled "Puerto Rico : Th Four Storied Country". In the article Gonzales points out what he feels is a disregard toward the African contribution to the Puerto Rican identity. He argues that the first Puerto Ricans were black , based on his interpretation that Africans were the first group to come to Puerto Rico and reproduce who did not have ties to a "motherland" because they were slaves. This is unlike the Spaniard elites and Criolles that demonstrated their commitment and loyalty to Spain. Since they had no other place to go, Puerto Rico was their motherland. Gonzalez also points out that the culture of a region is always the culture of the elite, not the popular culture.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico Essay

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1917, the small island of Puerto Rico gained citizenship of the United States (The Central Intelligence Agency, 2015). Puerto Ricans are now legal American citizens. However, unlike the United States, they rarely partake in the traditional American cultures and traditions. Just like other territories and states that incorporate the United States, Puerto Rico’s Chief of State is Barrack Obama. However, unlike the United States, the Puerto Ricans do not vote on the president as outlined in the Constitution.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of From Mambo To Hip-Hop

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    South Bronx has got influence from the Caribbean culture in the beginning of twentieth century. (Gordon 2005) says immigrants greatly

    Read More

  • Puerto Rican Obituary by Pedro Pietri

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Puerto Rican Obituary, the Puerto Rican people from New York City struggle to attain

    Read More

  • Filipino Immigration Thesis

    483 Words  | 1 Pages

    The strong influx of Filipino immigrants during the early 1920s until today has made them the largest nationality migrating into the United States. In Roger Daniels "Coming to America: A History of Immigration and Ethnicity in American Life" published in 1991 a historical overview and an analysis of the immigration process of Filipinos is presented.

    Read More

  • Descriptive Essay On Puerto Rico

    298 Words  | 1 Pages

    Since 1898, Puerto Rico has been a territory belonging to the United States. An abundant

    Read More

More about Puerto Rican Culture Development within the New York Diaspora

Open Document