I honestly thought I knew everything about Puerto Ricans. The ignorant side of me thought Puerto Ricans had it easier than other Latino communities because they are automactically U.S. citizens even though they were born in Puerto Rico. I was so wrong.
After watching Chicago's Puerto Rican Story last night, I came to realize that they were just like all immigrants who come to the United States. They came for a dream, they were discriminated against, they struggled, and they fought hard for what they believed in. Who can not admire that?
If you missed the documentary last night, I've included a quick history lesson (all in order) of how Puerto Ricans began their journey to Chicago. You can also purchase the DVD here. It's worth every penny.
-1898- The Spanish American War begins. Under the treaty Spain is to hand over territories to the United States. One of the territories the United States got was Puerto Rico.
-Puerto Ricans were made United States citizens.
-Operation Bootstrap- The United States wanted to change the island and industrialize it to help it "develop," but according to interviews ultimately this was for the benefit of the United States rather than to help Puerto Ricans.
-1950's- Puerto Ricans from the rural areas started to leave the island for the U.S. because the operation did not work and people needed jobs. Many Puerto Ricans worked in farms and were paid very little.
-1946- Chicago agencies recruited Puerto Ricans to work for the city.
-Puerto Ricans lived in poor conditions but they did not realize it because that's all that they had.
-School's had no interpreters. The children, who spoke no English, were put in the corners or in separate tables with other non-English speaking children and were given games to play with. Thus, many children never learned, failed, and were forced to repeat the grade.
-Puerto Ricans, who were mostly of Catholic faith, were not accepted by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church closed its doors to them and they were separated. The Church did not even bother to bring in Puerto Rican priests.
-Puerto Ricans at one time occupied Lincoln Park. They were then displaced because of gentrification.
-Division Street Riot of the 1960s- Puerto Ricans faced tremendous police brutality. Police provoked a riot after one of their K-9 dogs bit a pregnant woman. The riot went on for days and the city did nothing.
-Young Lords Organization- This organization empowered the community and took action to fight for the services and representation they deserved.
-Chicago started its own Red Squad, in which they targeted political organizations or movements such as the Young Lords Organization, Black Panthers, Cesar Chavez, etc.
-Puerto Ricans eventually settled in West Town. In an effort to claim their neighborhood and as a gift to the community, political leaders created the Paseo Boricua. These are two large steel Puerto Rican flags that were inserted into the ground. It stretches along Division Street from California to Western.
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