Like many other immigrating Puerto Ricans came looking for new opportunities to start a new life, and to seek better opportunities. Puerto Rico’s settlement in the United States has had a unique experience compared to those of other Latin American countries. One main difference between Puerto Ricans and other latin American immigrants is that they are already US citizens, however they where treated like any other migrating Latin American group would be treated, they where discriminated against in the work place, in schools, and in housing. Although they where US citizens, Puerto Ricans still faced cultural differences from those of the dominant fabric, they struggled to fit in and call the US home, even though it was their home. The US did make efforts to assimilate them but they weren't so successful because Puerto Ricans still didn't completely abandon their roots. Through history one can see the push factors for many Puerto Ricans choosing to abandon their home and migrate to a country foreign to what they new. In the 19th century people where migrating from Puerto Rico to the United States in search of employment and new opportunities for a better life. Although Puerto Ricans where considered US citizens, coming over and establishing a home and community on the mainland was still a struggle for them, they had to face the same prejudice as any other immigrant groups, they had to face the same language barriers, much like any minority at the time.
For further understanding of Puerto Rico’s migration and assimilation, it is important to understand how the involvement of the US in Puerto Rico started. In 1898 after the explosion of the USS main in Havana Cuba war between Spain and US broke out after the 4 month war. After the US’s victory, Spain’s Caribbean colonies where under US control. Puerto Rico became US territory and changed the name from Puerto Rico to Porto Rico, later being changed to its original name in 1932. The United States attempted to resolve some of the various economic and social issues that where present in the island. They introduced America currency, health programs and economic policies to attract US industry and created more employment opportunities for Puerto Ricans as their relationship grew closer and conditions improved, the number of puerto ricans moving from island to mainland increased. In efforts to assimilate Puerto Ricans the public school system was introduced and US Postal services where extended to the island. In efforts to ease transportation through out the island they built highways, enlarged the ones in place and constructed bridges. With many improvements to the average Puerto Rican life assimilation also began especially in the school system where english was taught as a primary language and Spanish was taught almost as an elective. In 1900 the Foraker act was established and allowed free commerce between the US and the island. This act also had an insular government appointed by the US, it also created judicial system. The US government introduced their own government and military in hopes to “americanize” the islanders ideologies. However, in efforts to “americanize” them the US government faced one obstacle, most of the Puerto Ricans did not fit the American mold because many of them where of native and African descents and did not look the part. Later on these same obstacles would be present for those who migrated to the mainland.
In 1917 president Wilson responded to pressure of Puerto Rico activists and signed the Jones act, which grated Puerto Ricans American citizenship, but didn't grant them the right to vote in congress as Puerto Rico is not a state. The first wave of migrants where the skilled tradesmen or “tabaacerros” highly politicized and organized. These skilled tradesmen would make presence felt. Violence against Puerto ricans was common, many non latino gangs would commit violent crimes against them, so they begin to build a political community in 20s with organizations such as the Puerto Rican nationalist association and the club democratic hispanoamericano. There was one main difference Puerto Ricans had from other immigrating groups, they where able to vote in New York. They voted for their leaders to change their situation early on and form political groups that supported their views. Although Puerto Ricans are US citizens they had no autonomy to choose what happened to them or their policies. Many times they where left at the mercy of the US and where and are not allowed to make decisions over policies that affect them directly. Puerto Ricans may be citizens but they are not allowed to exercise their right to vote.
As a series of hurricanes hit Puerto Rico and their economic situation worsened many decided to migrate to the US, specifically in New York. Puerto Ricans seeking for a new beginning faced the same discriminations as any other migrant group in New York like the Jewish, Italian, and Irish. For Afro-Latinos it was harder to adapt due to their complexion. Being identified with the African American community, they had to face double discrimination even within their own community and in every day society. Due to the language barrier, many of the newly arrived migrants had hard times looking for well paying jobs. Many of them where not skilled workers either making it harder for them to find jobs. Those who did not find jobs in the factories or the harbor joined the army. Puerto Ricans in the army where segregated and placed with the African American regimes. However, the naturalization of Puerto Ricans qualified them to be drafted for World War 1. Puerto Ricans that where still residing in the island where drafted and placed in their own regimes.
Many factors contributed to the Puerto Rican Great Migration like World War II, the great Depression and the introduction of aircrafts. Since Puerto Rico’s economy was still dependent on the United States the Great Depression was felt all through out island. Puerto Rico’s rising population rose to nearly 2 million people and the standard of living did not improve with it. It caused over crowding and depression through out the country. The depression made many citizens eager to have a fresh start in the mainland. Many puerto ricans migrated to NYC into neighborhoods like Spanish Harlem or East Harlem which already consisted of Puerto rican, Cuban and African American population. Life was not easy for newly migrating Puerto Ricans, like many other immigrants they struggled with poverty, unemployment, and racial discrimination. Darker skinned Puerto Ricans where often excluded from education, and housing, and where frequently attacked by non-puerto rican street gangs. Many first generation migrants had stayed in the same social class as their parents. Not having the resources and economic status, many followed in the footsteps of their parents and worked for the docks and factories. Many Puerto Ricans did not face language barriers as they had been taught English but they did face discrimination due to their heavy accents. Even though they where citizens and spoke English, they where still marginalized and treated as second class citizens. Their citizenship meant nothing to those who discriminated Puerto Ricans faced that problem that they where American but, they were not American enough to assimilate into the dominant fabric. Their english, if they spoke any, was not perfect, and their culture was completely different from the average cookie cutter American family. Even though they where American many times they lived in a small apartment with up to six people and it was hard for them to call mainland USA their home. They often times found themselves marginalized and treated the same as any Latino immigrating group would have at that time.
World War 2 helped many migrants gain jobs that had not been available before opened up new employment opportunities. The new employment opportunities opened the doors for those Puerto Ricans who wanted a new start. The sudden need for labor helped Puerto Ricans find jobs that had not been offered before. They found themselves in factories and docks making product for domestic use and for warfare. Not only did it open up new job opportunities it provided training to those newly arriving migrants. World War II opened up many job opportunities and it gave those willing to go to war a steady income and promises of better futures, if they returned. Many Puerto Ricans felt a sense of American pride and felt it was necessary for them to do their part and go to war, they often times felt it was necessary to show that they where just as American as any other citizen, so many enlisted for war, more than 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in the war. Because Puerto Ricans where US citizens, many took advantage of the GI bill to pursue college educations, buy houses, and have a steady sources of income, therefore moving up the social and economic status. Unlike many of the previous first generation Puerto Ricans, the War and the GI bill, gave them the resources to better themselves. Another factor to the Great Migration was the introduction of aircrafts that made travel easier, faster, and more affordable. Although each Puerto Rican had their own reason for leaving, it was generally the impoverished conditions that inspired many to seek better lives in the mainland.
After the war many Puerto Ricans began to settle into the Puerto Rican neighborhoods or “barrios” in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and East Harlem. Here Puerto Rican migrants established their culture and social life. They faced many of the same discriminations as any other migrating groups. Many Puerto Ricans faced discrimination because of the language barriers and because many had strong African or native features and faced prejudice within their own community, often times being looked down on. However, the community still had programs to help this newly arriving migrants assimilate by helping them find jobs and housing because many landlords did not want to rent to Puerto Rican. The school systems did not make it easier to assimilate or welcome the younger generation, they did not offer bilingual programs and often segregated the Puerto Rican children from the others viewing them as a problem. Often times, not wanting to deal with the children, they would send them to the back of the class. Afterwards, Puerto Ricans moved to Philadelphia and Chicago establishing their communities and also being able to help those newly arriving migrants.
When settling in the mainland, many Puerto Ricans faced the same problem, people didn't know Puerto Rico or that it was part of the United states. They where a foreign culture with US citizenship, it was more like second class citizenship. Even though they had the advantage of already having a citizenship, they still faced the same discrimination as any other latin American immigrant, or as any previous immigrant settling in New York. Even though the Puerto Rican islands are part of the United States, it is much more difficult for migrants to settle in the mainland because they do to share the same culture as the dominant group. Puerto Ricans where US citizens but they did not look or sound “American.” Even with all the US efforts to assimilate them like changing the name to Porto Rico and forcing the english language into their culture, they prevailed and where able to keep their identity in a society that wants to assimilate everyone