Why did Puerto Ricans migrate to the United States in the mid 1900s?
Before 1898, Puerto Ricans came to the United States as workers, as merchants, and as political exiles, struggling to end Spanish colonialism in Puerto Rico and Cuba. After 1898, Puerto Ricans came because U.S. investment in Puerto Rico had wrought economic changes.
Why is West Side Story important for the US and Puerto Rico?
West Side Story’s music, lyrics and narrative have shaped public consciousness about Puerto Rico and its people, continuing to capture audiences since it debuted on Broadway in 1957 and the silver screen in 1961, winning ten of twelve categories for which it was nominated at the 1962 Oscars.
Why are there so many Puerto Ricans in the US?
After the end of the Spanish–American War a significant influx of Puerto Rican workers to the US began. With its 1898 victory, the United States acquired Puerto Rico from Spain and has retained sovereignty since. The 1917 Jones–Shafroth Act made all Puerto Ricans US citizens, freeing them from immigration barriers.
Where do most of the Puerto Ricans in America live?
City. Approximately 90 percent of the Puerto Rican population in the United States lives in 30 cities, most of them in the eastern states along the Atlantic seaboard. The city with the largest concentration of Puerto Ricans is New York, followed by Chicago, Philadelphia, Newark and Hartford.
Can Puerto Rican citizens move to the US?
Nationality acquisition and federal citizenship Despite possessing federal statutory citizenship, residents of Puerto Rico have no representation in the US Congress, are unable to vote in the Electoral College, and do not have full protection under the US Constitution, until they come to reside in a U.S. state.
Are you a citizen if born in Puerto Rico?
In most cases, taking on citizenship in a new jurisdiction is a long and complicated process that requires years of permanent residency in the new territory. For U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico is an exception: given that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, Puerto Ricans are already U.S. citizens by birth.
Are Puerto Ricans Native Americans?
Most Puerto Ricans know, or think they know, their ethnic and racial history: a blending of Taino (Indian), Spanish and African. According to the study funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, 61 percent of all Puerto Ricans have Amerindian mitochondrial DNA, 27 percent have African and 12 percent Caucasian.
How does West Side Story relate to Puerto Rican immigration?
West Side Story and Puerto Rican Immigration. The musical drama West Side Story accurately illustrates many of the hardships faced by Puerto Rican immigrants living in New York City in 1950′s, especially through its depiction of the racism that confronted Maria, Bernardo, and their family and friends.
Why did Puerto Ricans come to the United States?
As a result, Puerto Ricans turned to the United States for stability. US investors seized control of the majority of the islands farmable land, pushing Puerto Ricans off of privately owned farms and sugar cane plantations that had provided for the island for centuries.
Who was the only Latina in the original West Side Story?
The only Latina in the 1961 movie, Moreno ended up winning an Oscar for her performance — the first Latina and first Puerto Rican woman to do so. In the new version, Moreno is back but in a completely different role — she will now play Doc, the shopkeeper, who was a man in the original movie.
What was Rita Moreno’s skin tone in West Side Story?
THIS is her natural skin tone. White actors like Natalie Wood and George Chakiris were put in literal brown face while portraying Puerto Ricans living in New York City in the film. Even Moreno, an actual Puerto Rican, had her skin tone darkened for the role.