Puerto Ricans are one of the few groups of people that have both immigrated and migrated to the United States. After the Spanish-American war in 1898, some Puerto Ricans immigrated to the U.S. At this time Puerto Rico changed hands from Spain to the U.S. However, Puerto Ricans still needed passports to travel to the United States. Laws made the Puerto Rican migration to New York impossible at the time.
In 1917 the government gave Puerto Ricans limited U.S. citizenship. One of these benefits was the ability to travel to the mainland without a passport. The advent of air travel in the 1950’s allowed for an increase in Puerto Rican Migration to New York. Puerto Rican migration to New York in the 1950’s is now known as the “Great Migration.”
Puerto Rican Migration to New York: The Statistics
New York’s Puerto Rican population reached its height from 1970 to 1990. They represented about 80% of the Hispanic community and 12% of New York’s total population. Since that time the Puerto Rican Migration to New York has slowed. Many Puerto Ricans are now choosing to go to cities such as Philadelphia or Orlando over New York. The 2010 census showed that there are now 700,000 Puerto Ricans in New York. This represents 8.9% of the overall population and 32% of the Hispanic population in New York City.
This makes New York City the largest Puerto Rican cultural center outside of Puerto Rico itself. This also means that New York City’s influenced daily by Puerto Rican culture.
Puerto Rican Neighborhoods
Since the start of the Great Migration, Puerto Ricans have started to set up their own small “barrios” in the Bronx, Brooklyn and East Harlem. The section of East Harlem that is largely Puerto Rican is no known as Spanish Harlem. These barrios have sprouted up all over the city and are where most New York Puerto Ricans call home. You’ll often find these places filled with Latin music, the smell of sofrito and piraguas sold in every shop.
Puerto Rican Culture in New York
Puerto Rican’s brought with them their incredible culture. During the Spanish-American War, U.S. soldiers brought baseball and boxing to the tiny island. When Puerto Ricans migrated to New York, they instantly became forces in both sports. They fell in love with both sports in their home and had practiced them ever since.
Puerto Ricans also brought their cuisine. Traditional Puerto Rican foods such as sofrito, black beans, and rice, and piraguas are now commonplace in the city. For those of you who do not know what piraguas is, it is a shaved ice pyramid covered with fruit syrup. You don’t have to go far, in New York to find traditional and delicious Puerto Rican cuisine.
Puerto Rican music also flourished in the city. The South Bronx became the hub for Puerto Rican music. From the likes of Rafael Hernandez, Pedro Flores, Mryta Silva, to the most famous of them all Jennifer Lopez. The Puerto Rican music scene in New York City continues to thrive.
Puerto Rican Migration to New York: The Tough Times
At first, Puerto Rican’s welcomed in the city. Signs posted in restaurants and shops read “No dogs, or Puerto Ricans allowed.” Much like many other ethnic groups, there were concerns about the economic effect Puerto Rican’s would have in New York. The fear of cheap labor scared many citizens who acted out in a rash and unkind way.
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party established and office in New York in the 1950’s. The leaders of the party conceived a plan to assassinate Harry S. Truman and attack the House of Representatives. These events had a negative impact on Puerto Rican migrants; many were labeled as Anti-American and discrimination against them became widespread.
Healed Relations
While it may have started rough, New York accepted Puerto Ricans after some time. Many Puerto Ricans became active members in their communities. They started helping both fellow Puerto Ricans and other New Yorkers as a whole. One especially helped in healing relations. His name was Tony Mendez. Tony Mendez became the first Puerto Rican-born person to hold the office of a major political party in New York. He was appointed by Carmine Gerard DeSapio to the district leader of the 14th Assembly District. This district included East Harlem where there was a large Puerto Rican population.
The Puerto Rican Parade
Nothing shows just how far Puerto Ricans have come to New York City quite like the parade. Starting in 1958 the Puerto Rican Day parade has grown year after year. Today it draws an estimated two million spectators annually. This makes it one of the largest outdoor events in the entire United States. The cities citizens, as well as visitors from around the world, join in a celebration of Puerto Rican culture. With live music, dancing and of course drinking, it is a sight to see.
