I will be doing my paper on how Puerto Ricans were forced to be lower class citizens with limited housing and career opportunities and the discrimination they faced.

Introduction

• Cause of migration and poverty
• thesis
• general synopsis of West Side Story

Body Paragraph 1

• how Puerto Ricans felt about their life in America
• scene where Anita and Bernardo sing about the pros and cons of living in America
• limited job opportunities to low paying jobs that resulted in poverty

Body Paragraph 2

• mass migration led to overpopulation and formation of slums
• there were people who tried to help create better living conditions

Body Paragraph 3

• Discrimination against Puerto Ricans
• people who wanted to halt migration
• painted Puerto Ricans as criminals and delinquents

Body Paragraph 4

• fight against discrimination
• how gangs came to be
• violence and criminal level wasn’t as bad as media portrayed it to be

Conclusion

• restate thesis
• relate west side story to how puerto ricans were unfairly disadvantaged

Introduction- The Film “West Side Story” illustrates how the Puerto Rican’s faced discrimination and were used as scapegoats by the American people during the cold war time period to escape their anxieties.

• mention of the anxieties of the time period
• mention sources that describe activities that would display scapegoating of puerto ricans

First Body Paragraph

• discussion of the film overall mentioning scenes that further convey the argument
• describe how the jets viewed the sharks
• explain stereotypes that are perpetuated throughout the film
• utilization of the review of the film

Second body paragraph

• mention the contrast between the music man and west side story
• escapism vs scapegoating
• speak about how the mass immigration of Puerto ricans effected the way they were treated

Third paragraph

• use of new york times articles that convey the way puerto ricans were being treated
• find a way to tie in the anxieties of the time period with the scapegoating of Puerto ricans
• speak about how new wave immigrants throughout america’s history have always been discriminated against and blamed for the countries problems

Conclusion

• bring together the idea that puerto ricans were used as scapegoats with why they were used as scapegoats
• mention how west side story illustrates this throughout the play

Introduction

• opens with general mention of the film, the play and the original novel of West Side Story
• Developed argument that connects issues of racial tension within the film to real life events of the late 1950s and early 1960s
• Main argument developed in thesis

First Body Paragraph

• first discussion of film with mentioning of specific scenes
• different gangs of the Jets and the Sharks are named and distinguished
• The significance of Maria and Tony’s romance is explained
• Conflicting attitude on foreign immigration to the United States at the time is mentioned

Second Body Paragraph

• Common ground of conflict with police by both the Jets and the Sharks is mentioned
• Lieutenant Schrank is first mentioned and labeled as a character representing law enforcement of the time period
• Symbolic value of his despising of both the Jets and the Sharks is explained

Third

• First New York Times article mentioning Puerto Ricans in New York is mentioned

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For now, this is all the information I can provide on my essay’s outline. I had been waiting on my requested copy of The Puerto Rican Diaspora which I have only recently found out has been made available for check-out at the Newman Library. For my future paragraphs, I intend to incorporate 3 New York Times articles featuring a new one I have recently found that directly mentions the conflicting relationships between the Puerto Rican community and Law enforcement in 1965. I will also add information from my chosen listening portions along with West Side Story and the Music Man.

1. Introduction
   • General Statement
   • Thesis: That historians used this film to basically understand how gender (specifically the female) played a big role in mending the dynamic between Puerto Ricans and the Americans.
   • Introduce Film
   • Talk about significance
2. Body Paragraph #1
   • General Statement that shows what i will talk about
   • Summarize film
   • Include key parts that shadow my main idea of essay
3. Body Paragraph #3
   • Talk about how relationships were mended
   • Include scene from play
   • say that the female was very important in mending relationships
   • Talk about that scene as an example to my theses
   • Include another scene and justification
4. Body Paragraph #4
   • Talk about time period of 1950’s
   • Talk about how film paralleled real times
   • Include Briggs Source
     • Talk about WTCU and the LNA
   • Explain and Analyze
5. Body Paragraph #5
   • General statement about film and 1950’s and 1960’s
   • New York times article Magic Man
   • Include example of why they paralleled and how
6. Body Paragraph #6
   • Article about experience about Female Immigrants
   • What they went through
   • Say why they are powerful as opposed to male immigrants
   • Analyze and Explain
7. Body Paragraph #7
   • What way did females influence
   • Examples from NY Times article Magic men
   • Examples from Briggs Literature
   • Explain and Analyze
8. Conclusion
   • Restate thesis
   • Emphasize major points
   • The end

Intro- Introduce West Side Story’s plot in 2-3 sentences. Thesis: police relations and brutality against Puerto Rican immigrants in the 50’s and 60’s. Immigrants such as Puerto Ricans face general hardships when coming to the U.S. The conflict between the Sharks vs. the Jets.

Body I- There was bias towards foreigners, especially Puerto Ricans when it came to gangs and crimes. Cops were racist and tougher against the newcomers compared to Americans (Officer Krupky’s treatment with Sharks vs. the Jets). Using the source, “I don’t think the cop is my friend”. Cops had motives and agendas against Puerto Ricans.

Body II- The Sharks need to survive, and the immigrants develop the gang as a result. They lived in slums with terrible conditions so they wanted security by working together. “Police Assailed by Puerto Ricans”. Puerto Rican leaders called them biased as 3 of them in their communities were shot and killed.

Body III- Unlike the movie, cops try to make peace with Puerto Rican communities through educational programs from the police department. As cops were taught and understanding the culture, minority rights develop, which leads to respect of the Puerto Ricans. “Police Move to Win Puerto Rican Amity”.

Conclusion- Puerto Ricans, like other immigrants faced many hardships such as the police and dealing with them everyday. West Side Story represents the daily struggles of the Puerto Ricans trying to survive in the 50’s and 60’s.

Thesis: West Side Story illustrates the real conflict immigrants faced when coming to New York, yet despite being targeted they were still able to thrive.

Paragraph One: Brief Summary of West Side Story and how it relates to my thesis/argument

Paragraph Two: Introduce Whalen, Carmen Teresa and Victor Vazquez-Hernandez, The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives (especially “Colonialism, Citizenship, and the making of the Puerto Rican Diaspora” and “Jesus Colon and the making of the New York Community”) Discuss how it relates to West Side Story

Paragraph Three: Introduce NYT Article “The Puerto Rican Problem” which discusses how Puerto Ricans in New York were being targeted and almost treated as second class citizens

Paragraph Four: Discuss NYT Article “Police Move to Win Puerto Rican Amity: City to Tell ‘Every Cop’ to Mend Relations With Puerto Ricans” which discusses NY’s attempt to rekindle positive relations with the Puerto Rican community after years of conflict. Introduce idea of Puerto Ricans becoming more accepted in society and NY

Paragraph Five: NYT Article “City’s 2d-Generation Puerto Ricans Rising From Poverty: Puerto Ricans Rising From Poverty” which discusses how 2nd generation Puerto Ricans in New York were beginning to rise and thrive.

Conclusion: Restate Thesis, tie in with movie.

Introduction:

• Thesis: The film, West Side Story, Romanizes the struggles immigrants faced in New York during the 1960s. Historians can use to West Side Story to show how immigrants, or Puerto Ricans specifically, were treated in a discriminated matter and use this film to show how US imperialism effected both immigrants and Americans.
• Briefly describe what the film is about and describe the overall treatment of immigrants in New York during 1950s-1960s (or general explanation of what’s happening during the time period).
  • Sources
    • West side Story films
    • Analysis of all the primary sources (New York Time articles) and secondary source(Briggs)

Body Paragraph #1- Summary/ Set

• Summarize the problem and plot in West side Story
  • How does it relate to historical context (real life)
• Introduce at least one New York Time article to add to historical context
  • Sources(subject to change)
    • “BIG’ ISSUES CITED ON PUERTO RICANS.” New York Times (1923-Current file) Jan 17 1960: 84. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 2016 .
    • Special to The New,York Times. “PUERTO RICAN UNIT FACES ‘PREJUDICE’.” New York Times (1923-Current file) May 23 1954: 69. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 201
    • Briggs

Body Paragraph #2- Immigrants

• Explain that the Sharks and the Jets don’t like each other, mainly because the Sharks are immigrants.
  • By EDITH, EVANS A. “CHANGE FORESEEN IN CITY’S MAKE-UP.” New York Times (1923-Current file) May 09 1957: 33. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 2016 .
    • Use this to link it to the film. Explain how Americans viewed Puerto Ricans
  • Explain the specific reasons why Americans viewed immigrants in a bad thing
    • Special to The New,York Times. “PUERTO RICAN UNIT FACES ‘PREJUDICE’.” New York Times (1923-Current file) May 23 1954: 69. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 2016 .
    • Briggs reading
    • Linking it to the film

Body Paragraph #3- Racism

• Since Americans didn’t like immigrants it eventually leads to disagreements/fights/racism.
  • West Side Story: how the mocked Putero Ricans and how much they hate each other
  • Special to The New,York Times. “PUERTO RICAN UNIT FACES ‘PREJUDICE’.” New York Times (1923-Current file) May 23 1954: 69. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 2016 .
    • How Puerto Ricans were treated
  • Briggs reading
    • What Americans thought of immigrants

Body Paragraph #4- US Imperialism

• Why were there so many immigrants in the first place
  • By, PAUL B. “Puerto Rico’s Tomorrow.” New York Times (1923-Current file) Jan 01 1950: 108. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 2016 .
  • One more article found in New York time (but can’t find link right now but will be using)
• Immigrants lives (liked living in America)
  • West Side Story: the song on the roof, the ladies singing about liking America and the men not)
  • By, DAN W. “The Other Puerto Ricans.” New York Times (1923-Current file) Oct 11 1959: 6. ProQuest. 30 Nov. 2016 .

Conclusion

• Restate thesis
• Include important facts/ evidence

 

 

Introduction

• Introduce West Side Story
• State argument (“West Side Story brings awareness to the reality of the cultural and racial differences that prevented an easy adjustment for the Puerto Ricans that migrated to the mainland in the 1950’s.”)

Paragraph 1

• Provide a summary of the movie and its historical context that supports my argument
• Introduce one New York Times article (Big Issues Cited On Puerto Ricans, Jan 17,1960) and relate it back to the claim

Paragraph 2

• This paragraph will be specifically regarding that gang activity that was present in New York and how these gangs were organized
• Introduce another New York Times article (Few Gang Battles Laid to Race Bias, August 19, 1956)
• Analyze a specific scene in West Side Story and connect that back to the article

Paragraph 3

• Introduce and quote from my secondary source (Social Mobility of Puerto Ricans: Education, Occupation, and Income Among Children of Migrants, New York, 1950-1960)
• Relate that quote back to the movie and discuss the ideas about race and immigration in New York during that time period involving Puerto Ricans

Conclusion

• Reintroduce my main argument
• Summarize how the movie directly relates to my argument and how people can use this movie to learn about the historical context of that time period

Paragraph 1: Intro – Introduce sources and main argument “West Side Story is the catalyst for the improvement of conditions for Puerto Ricans.

Paragraph 2: Analysis of History of Puerto Rican immigration Briggs

Paragraph 3: Introduction to article :The Other Puerto Ricans   Main focus on before west side story

Paragraph 4: West Side Storys Major Points and summary music man

Paragraph 5: Introduction to Rising Hispanic Tensions spotlights improved relations for Puerto Ricans

Paragraph 6 Woes of  Puerto Ricans states that even though there have been improvement in relations there is still aways to go/

Paragraph 7: Conclusion

Extra Credit talk about struggles for minorities right now

Introduction – Argument: “Historians might use the film, West Side Story, as a historical source to understand U.S imperialism affected the political, economic, and social structure of Puerto Ricans in 1960s New York.”

Summary– Analyze the play within its historical context such as how U.S at the time had already gave P.R citizenship but it didn’t mean anything b/c they were bashed on and mention how the play shows my argument and xenophobia

Evidence from Bosley Crowther review : ” “Rumble”(battle) of the two kids – gives an overbeat of eloquence of the graphic realism of this film and weeps it along”

Body #1– explain how U.S imperialism affected the political structure of Puerto Ricans and involve from movie how Puerto ricans were all migrating to America for opportunity and viewed as criminals although with citizenship & incorporate from “The Puerto Rican Diaspora” (secondary source) the part of how the P.R’s and many other islands were taking over

Evidence from article called The ‘Puerto Rican’ Problem from NY Times – “22 percent of the “children brought to” the domestic relations court “as delinquents were Puerto Rican, while all the Puerto Ricans in town make up only about 7 percent of the city’s population”

Body #2– explain how U.S imperialism affected the economic structure of Puerto Ricans and include how in the movie it shows how they worked in garment shops and even sang about how the U.S was to become richer than in P.R & incorporate from “The Puerto Rican Diaspora” (secondary source) the part of how the P.R’s helped the economy grow quickly and from Brigs (secondary source)

Evidence from article called The ‘Puerto Rican’ Problem in NY Times – “majority of New York’s Puerto Ricans, 85 to 95 percent of whom are reported to be completely self supporting”

Body #3– explain how U.S imperialism affected the social structure of Puerto Ricans and include how in the movie it shows how separated the Americans and Spanish were because of racism & lack of english as well plus incorporate from Brigs (secondary source) how racism played a factor as well

Evidence from article called “Puerto Rican Migration” in NY Times – “many of those who migrate have not had more than five grades of elementary education; not even the type of schooling that will prepare the individual for the unskilled trades”

Conclusion– summarize how the play shows imperialism, racism, and immigration and make it come back to my argument