Full Description
For too long the study of impoverished Puerto Ricans living in the fifty states has been undermined by the use of broad generalizations. Puerto Ricans have been statistically grouped with all Latinos, studied with models developed for understanding African-American life, and written about as if New York's Puerto Rican community was the only such community worthy of detailed study. This book changes all that. In this important new work, Susan Baker looks beyond the traditional models and rewrites the origins, current state, and reasons behind Puerto Rican poverty. The book tells the story of how Puerto Ricans have left the Rustbelt cities to return to the island or to seek job opportunities elsewhere. Those left behind are predominantly poor women with dependents who live in segregated neighborhoods with little chance of finding low-skilled jobs because of competition from non-citizen, non-politicized workers.
In her alternative explanation, the author presents data from across the country and puts forth an explanation that is grounded in Puerto Rican history and sensitive not only to the interconnectedness of the island and mainland population, but also the increasing distress faced by Puerto Rican women and the sad truth that Puerto Rican citizenship in this country is a second class one. Author note: Susan S. Baker is Assistant Practical Theology Coordinator and Instructor at Westminster Theological Seminary.
Contents
PrefacePart I: Viewing Puerto Ricans as Hispanic1. Hispanics in the United States2. The Journeys of Mexicans and Cubans3. The Puerto Rican journey4. How the Journeys EndPart II: Viewing Puerto Ricans Across the United States5. How Puerto Ricans Fore from Place to Place6. Infernal Migration, A Response?7. How Segregation Fits In8. Puerto Rican Women and the Labor ForcePart III: Viewing Puerto Ricans Within the US. Economic Structure9. Immigrant Incorporation into U.S. Economy10. Puerto Rican Incorporation into NEW York11. Puerto Rican Incorporation into Areas Other Than New York12. ConclusionAppendix A: Selected MSAs by RegionAppendix B: Dissimilarity Indexes for Selected MSAs 1990Works CitedIndex
