The newest residents of a traditionally Spanish neighborhood are embracing it with the same Latin gusto as their predecessors. Since the 1950s Spanish Harlem, or El Bario, has grown into a predominantly Puerto Rican community that has hosted other Spanish cultures originating from the Dominican Republic to South America. Over the past 15 years, Mexican immigrants have begun to occupy this area in much the same way that previous Latin cultures have, carving their traditions and culture into the neighborhood.
The physical geogrpahy of the area has become defined as situated roughly between 96th St. to 116th South to North, and extending from the East river to the Harlem River East to West. Boundaries of the community over the past decade have been chipped away at by gentrification even as the Mexican community continues to grow within it.
Their occupation of the neighborhood parallels that to other cultures that have inhabited various plots of the city during the great migrations of America’s industrial era. They have had to persevere through strikingly similar conditions that late 19th century settlers faced such as overcrowded housing, lack of rights, lower pay and arduous work days. Mexican immigrants are looking for greater opportunities for themselves and their families in much the same way that European and Asian settlers worked for in the early 20th century.
Their population has grown substantially throughout United States, particularly in New York, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Their working class role has become a vital support for the financial infrastructure of both large and small businesses, who continue to exploit their lack of American citizenship and rights.
My project will document and focus on the Mexican community occupying Spanish Harlem and how the neighborhood has changed as a result of their cultural influence. Restaurants, bodegas, interviewing residents and attending community gatherings will fuction as my initial, observational stepping stones, which will ultimately serve to illuminate how a new generation of spanish culture is redefining a neighborhood, city and country.
Try to give as detailed a picture as possible of the Mexican community. Where do they come from (in Mexico)? How did they come here? Are they networked with one another? Are they related to each other? What church or churches do they attend? What schools? What is their immigration status?
Photos, yes, and video too. That would be splendid.
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