"The "Puerto-Rican Problem" in Postwar New York City presents the first comprehensive examination of the emergence, evolution, and consequences of the "Puerto Rican problem" movement and narrative in New York City from 1945 to 1960. This notion originated in an intense public campaign that arose in reaction to the entry of Puerto Rican migrants to the city after 1945. The "problem" narrative influenced their incorporation in New York City and other regions of the United States where they settled. The anti-Puerto Rican campaign led to the formulation of public policies by the governments of Puerto Rico and New York City seeking to ease their incorporation in the city. Notions intrinsic to this narrative later entered American academia (like the "culture of poverty") and American popular culture (e.g., West Side Story), which reproduced many of the stereotypes associated with Puerto Ricans at that time and shaped the way in which Puerto Ricans were studied and perceived by Americans"--
Author Edgardo Melendez is a scholar in Puerto Rican studies, Latino studies, and political science. In this book for students and scholars, he examines reactions against Puerto Rican migration to New York City during the period 1945 to 1960. He argues for the benefits of applying the framework of colonial migration in order to understand the Puerto Rican migration experience, as Puerto Ricans were colonial subject-citizens moving to the US mainland from one of its unincorporated territories. He uncovers racist and nativist assumptions in the narrative of the Puerto Rican Problem and chronicles the promulgation of these stereotypes by the press, academia, government agencies, public opinion, and even the Puerto Rican government. The opening chapter places the study of Puerto Rican migration within the larger framework of US immigration studies. Subsequent chapters describe the actions of key figures and groups including the Welfare Council of New York City, the Mayors Committee on Puerto Rican Affairs, and Congressman Vito Marcantonio. Of special interest, there is discussion of the impact of the stage play and film, West Side Story, on public opinion. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
The "Puerto-Rican Problem" in Postwar New York City presents the first comprehensive examination of the emergence, evolution, and consequences of the Puerto Rican problem campaign and narrative in New York City from 1945 to 1960. This notion originated in an intense public campaign that arose in reaction to the entry of Puerto Rican migrants to the city after 1945. The problem narrative influenced their incorporation in New York City and other regions of the United States where they settled. The anti-Puerto Rican campaign led to the formulation of public policies by the governments of Puerto Rico and New York City seeking to ease their incorporation in the city. Notions intrinsic to this narrative later entered American academia (like the culture of poverty) and American popular culture (e.g., West Side Story), which reproduced many of the stereotypes associated with Puerto Ricans at that time and shaped the way in which Puerto Ricans were studied and perceived by Americans.
This book presents the first comprehensive examination of the campaign and narrative of the "Puerto Rican problem" in New York City from 1945 to 1960. It looks at how this campaign influenced the incorporation of Puerto Ricans to the US, the policies of the governments of Puerto Rico and New York, and the ways Puerto Ricans were perceived by Americans for decades.
