As shown in the graph, 28.2% of the foreign-born Jamaican population has graduated high school only in New York City. This is actually a higher percentage of high school graduates than NYC’s collective foreign-born population, 23.5%, and more surprisingly the native-born population, 25.1%. Although this may be due to high English proficiency compared to other immigrant groups, foreign-born Jamaicans might also be placing more emphasis on the obtainment of a high school diploma to succeed. The percentage of college attainment or more might still be low, but this may change as they integrate into society. After all, with no language barriers and high school degrees, foreign-born Jamaicans will be able to find employment much more easily and have the basic skills to climb the socio-economic ladder.

Lobo, Arun Peter, and Joseph J. Salvo.  2004.  The Newest New Yorkers, 2000: Immigrant New York in the New Millennium.  New York: New York City Department of City Planning, Population Division.

Source: The Newest New Yorkers (2004)

When racial quotas from the 20’s were lifted and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, America was the place where Jamaicans and other immigrants wanted to be. Jamaican families could trace back their legitimacy for the family preference system. The Hart Celler Act of 1965 repealed the quota system and allowed immigrants to immigrate mainly due to family ties and skills. The family ties part of the Hart Celler Act primarily explains why over 90% of Jamaicans come through family because starting in the late nineteenth century, Jamaicans have been building close-knit communities throughout New York City primarily around the Flatbush area of Brooklyn. Most Jamaicans immigrate to be with their families – the two categories on the graph are “family preferences” and “immediate relatives.” With 93% of Jamaicans immigrating to America because of these family relationships, clearly the Jamaicans had ties here before coming, although there is a small percentage that came for other reasons, including employment, which can also explain some of the economic advantages America offered.

As shown in the graph, in 2000, 28.2% of the foreign-born Jamaican population graduated high school only in New York City. This is actually a higher percentage of high school graduates than NYC’s collective foreign-born population, 23.5%, and more surprisingly the native-born population, 25.1%. Although this may be due to high English proficiency compared to other immigrant groups, foreign-born Jamaicans might also be placing more emphasis on the obtainment of a high school diploma to succeed. The percentage of college attainment or more might still be low, but this may change as they integrate into society. After all, with no language barriers and high school degrees, foreign-born Jamaicans will be able to find employment much more easily and have the basic skills to climb the socio-economic ladder.

As shown in the graph below, the proportion of foreign-born Jamaicans five years and older that are fluent in English greatly exceeds other foreign-born immigrant groups.  In 2011, about 97% of foreign-born Jamaicans were found to speak English well at their homes (ACS 2009-2011.)  With the exception of the language Patois or Patwa, which is a mixture of English and African dialects, Jamaica is an English-speaking country.  By having English as the official language, generations of Jamaican families use English to communicate with their newly arrived family at home instead of a foreign tongue that most immigrant groups use to communicate at home.  Thanks to this, Jamaicans having a strong fluency in English will lead them to having a much faster integration into American society because the linguistic barrier will be removed.