The History of Chicago
Puerto Ricans started immigrating to Chicago in the late 1940s so to escape the massive unemployment that rampaged through Puerto Rico. But it wouldn’t be until the 1950s and 60s that Puerto Ricans would start immigrating to Chicago in mass. In 1960, the census read 32, 371. By 1970, that number had more than doubled to 78,963. And unlike their Mexican counterparts, Puerto Ricans did not move into the already existing immigrant, minority neighborhoods. Instead they carved out their own barrios in dominantly white neighborhoods in the middle of the city. This may be because by the time Puerto Ricans reached Chicago, the industrial factories that provided the majority of the unskilled labor jobs for immigrants were on the decline, leaving restaurant work, janitorial work, and delivery boys/stockroom workers for corporations as the major income for most Puerto Ricans.
And despite both groups different backgrounds and initial starts in the city, they would face similar challenges and pushbacks from already established neighborhoods and communities. They would need to fight to have their voices heard in the political climate and education systems. And they would have to learn what it means to them to be a Latino born in America.
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