East Harlem has a strong Hispanic Community. Specifically, Puerto Ricans came in during the mid 20th century and have made important economic contributions to their community.
Map of Spanish Harlem Area:
In this diagram it shows the area known as Spanish Harlem. The neighborhood boundaries are Harlem River to the north, the East River to the east, East 96th Street to the south, and 5th Avenue to the west.
This is an example of how Puerto Ricans integrated in the East Harlem community and how they spread their culture among the residents.
An influx of the Puerto Rican community came after the First World War. The area slowly started to spread over all of Italian Harlem. Eventually Italians moved out and Latinos moved in during another wave of Latino immigration after the Second World War. Since the 1950s, the Puerto Ricans have made a large part of East Harlem’s population. Additionally, second and third Puerto Rican generations are sometimes known as Nuyoricans.
This image shows a typical food stand during the 1950's which many Puerto Ricans used as a means of earning capital
The main reason for Puerto Ricans to come to New York City was so that they could obtain good jobs and become a part of the labor force. Typically most Puerto Ricans were farmers back in their homeland. However, as Puerto Ricans started to settle down in East Harlem, they were competing for a wide range of jobs. These included small positions in the hospitals, hotels, garment factories, and police departments of East Harlem. They soon played a significant role in the city’s political and cultural life.
An example of a Puerto Rican protest demonstration in the 1960's.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, there was a decline in the labor market in East Harlem and around the country. There were fewer jobs and as a result many Puerto Ricans actually returned home. However, there were also violent protests and riots resulting from discrimination against the darker skinned Puerto Ricans. They were actually excluded from jobs, education, and the housing markets. Overall Puerto Ricans had a tough time integrating into East Harlem especially because of the language barrier that was present.
The Puerto Rican Day parade marks one of the largest and widespread parades in New York City. It’s usually held annually on the 2nd of June and was first organized in Spanish Harlem. It was created in order to honor the roots of the Hispanic citizens living in East Harlem at the time. It also was a way for the community to come together and celebrate their roots.
The Puerto Rican community have definitely made their mark on East Harlem. From the local shops they own to the businesses they have created, a whole community network has been successfully established. Puerto Rican celebrations include the Puerto Rican Day parade which has become the largest parade for any national or ethnic group in the city.
Future Outlooks:
More recently Mexicans are also making their mark in East Harlem. “An illustration of his lament can be seen on several blocks of 116th Street, long Puerto Rican East Harlem’s main shopping strip, which are now filled with shops selling Mexican food, flags and pastries.” Possibly the same cycle is starting with the Mexican population. Only time will tell the fates of these two ethnic groups in East Harlem and their economic standing within the community.
