The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives [Paperback]

Carmen Teresa Whalen (Editor), Victor Vazquez-hernandez (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2005

Puerto Ricans have lived and worked for over a century in cities and towns across the United States -- not just in New York City. Highlighting the distinct and shared aspects of migration and community building in eight Puerto Rican communities, ranging from large urban centers in Boston and Chicago to smaller settlements in Hawaii and Ohio, the essays in The Puerto Rican Diaspora illuminate the historical richness and geographical diversity of the Puerto Rican experience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In her introduction, Carmen Teresa Whalen provided an excellent social and economic history on the process of Puerto Rican migration to the United States during the twentieth century...This is an excellent book that will potentially serve a diverse audience in the United States of those who study migration and social microhistories of such communities. It is a unique and extraordinary effort, offering a brief and accessible social and political history of distinct Puerto Rican settlements in the United States. The contributors provided a rich amount of bibliographic sources, particularly in English, which will benefit undergraduate classes on migration and Puerto Rican communities." - The Journal of American History "Each study can be read alone, but taken together as a chronicle of a people scattered widely across the Americas over time and space, this collection of original essays produces a very satisfying encounter with a demographic phenomenon both familiar and new. Whalen bookends the volume with excellent historical overview and conclusion. The writing throughout is clear and jargon free, and select photos enliven the narratives. Summing Up: Highly Recommended." - Choice "This is an innovative, if not singular, publication on the formation and development of seldom studied Puerto Rican communities in the United States... The history of these communities yields a unique perspective on the racial dynamics, economic development, politics, and cultural life of the cities and towns that are studied here. Each chapter also provides localized insights on the migration experience, and help shape a more comprehensive portrait of the Puerto Rican diaspora." - Pedro Caban "The [book] seeks to correct two misreadings of Puerto Rican American history: the assumptions that Puerto Ricans are recent migrants and that their migration has been to New York City, the post World War II 'Newyorican' phenomenon. The book does that successfully, in the sense that it identifies the early individuals who located in the cities under examination, and, more notably, in its tracking of the rise of the Puerto Rican communities of the various cities and states... The book is a good introduction to the history of Puerto Ricans in the United States." - Historical Journal of Massachusetts

From the Publisher

Histories of the Puerto Rican experience

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Temple Univ Pr (August 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592134130
• ISBN-13: 978-1592134137
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a book that fairly explores the Puerto Rican diaspora!, February 27, 2008

By 

L. Rivera "el torbellino" (Hartford, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives (Paperback)

This book is definitely a MUST for those studying the Puerto Rican diaspora, the Puerto Rican socio-political condition in the US and the economical condition of many Puerto Ricans who have been living in the US for decades. It explains in a balanced and fair way how and why Puerto Ricans have been moving to the US since the 1940's and why they ended up settling in certain parts of the US. I highly recommend it because it clearly shows the effects of US colonialism/imperialism on the economy of Puerto Rico as well as the economic situation of Puerto Ricans residing in the US.

Two thumbs up!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boricua Author, January 4, 2007

By 

Hector Varela (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Historical Perspectives (Paperback)

An outstanding collection of stories covering an incredible spectrum of
Boricua life throughout the Continent bolstered by no nonsense research.
A must for every boricua writer, student, or researcher. Kudos to Carmen
Whalen.