Black Immigrants Coming Through Ellis Island (Buffalo, Mexico: neighborhoods, to live in, vs.)

[Moth]

Just a side tidbit. During one of the Ellis Island scenes in Godfather II, you can clearly see an African woman standing in line waiting to be processed.

[Vixles]

As the poster said before me, the reason it is rarely talked about is probably because it was such a small percentage of the immigrants compared to European Immigration. The height of Euro Immigration to the states was at the turn of the century, and in the 1920s the USA enacted laws to stop immigration from southern and eastern European countries because there were so many coming in.

As with anything, something that happens far less then something else is not talked or written about as much.

Start a blog, maybe it will become popular! I would read about it!

[Candelita]

Yes, I have grandparents that came to the U.S. seperately from the caribbean to Ellis Island. People are shocked when I say this, especially now that I've moved from New York to the Maryland. They have never heard of any blacks coming through Ellis Island. They are also shocked that I am Episcopalian and not A.M.E (African Methodist Episcopalian). Who Knew!

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

Why isn't this topic ever discussed? I have great aunts who came from Cuba in the early 1920s. There are records of blacks who came from the Caribbean during the first quarter of the 20th century. However, there are only studies and historical books on European immigrants who touched Ellis Island.

Do any of you have any information on the subject? Are any of you descendants of black immigrants who came over on Ellis Island?

I've seen some sources breakout the West Indian immigrant but not many.
Colin Powell's folks came through Ellis Island from Jamaica.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Medinamami

Its rarely talked about because it was an extremely rare experience. By 1932 only 0.8% of african americans were foreign born voluntary immigrants. Practically the entire african american population was the result of forced immigrant through slavery so of course that would be the focus of most all of our stories. The classic idea of Ellis island ended in about 1924 as a result of changes to immigration laws (though it stayed open until the 50s).

I've been a frequent visitor and lover of the Schomburg Center but it has never, imo, given the impression that the Ellis island experience played a large part in the overall black migration american experience (black meaning blackskinned, regardless of nationality). That's because it simply wasn't. God bless those though who were fortunate enough to have that easy & pleasant, speaking relatively, experience.

FYI, after 1924, Ellis Island became mainly a detention and deportation processing center because most of the processing talked about pre1924 was being done in the countries of origin.

Black immigration did have an outsize impact in NYC since that's where most Caribbean immigrants settled. As recently as the 1970s the proportion of foreign born blacks among the total black population was .5%.

Now it's nearing 10%.

[oscarsgrand]

currently, I am doing research on the caribbean immigrant who came through Ellis Island to NY and resided in Harlem through the Renaissance. There was a strong "West Indian" contigent whose members supported each other. Anyone iwho is interested or has ancestors in this category please reply.
I am particularly lookng for any information on the trip and mode of transportation.

[NooYowkur81]

I don't see why it's so surprising to some. Some people act like immigrants of color only got here about 20 to thirty years ago. West Indians have been here for years. It would make sense for them or at least some of them to have come in through ellis island. It is what it is. People overwhelmingly associate Ellis Island with massive amounts of immigrants from Europe.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Medinamami

Its rarely talked about because it was an extremely rare experience. By 1932 only 0.8% of african americans were foreign born voluntary immigrants. Practically the entire african american population was the result of forced immigrant through slavery so of course that would be the focus of most all of our stories. The classic idea of Ellis island ended in about 1924 as a result of changes to immigration laws (though it stayed open until the 50s).

I've been a frequent visitor and lover of the Schomburg Center but it has never, imo, given the impression that the Ellis island experience played a large part in the overall black migration american experience (black meaning blackskinned, regardless of nationality). That's because it simply wasn't. God bless those though who were fortunate enough to have that easy & pleasant, speaking relatively, experience.

FYI, after 1924, Ellis Island became mainly a detention and deportation processing center because most of the processing talked about pre1924 was being done in the countries of origin.

That number is now approaching 10%. I believe in NYC Blacks who are either immigrants or children of immigrants now outnumber Black American who are descendants of slaves.

Hispanic immigration gets much of the press but this recent phenomenon in the Black community shows how much of an impact the liberalization of immigration laws in the 60s had on this country.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Moth

Just a side tidbit. During one of the Ellis Island scenes in Godfather II, you can clearly see an African woman standing in line waiting to be processed.

LOL You noticed that too. That scene actually got me started in learning more about Black immigrants in that period.

Did you know the police chief in the show the Homicide is the son of an African immigrants from the Cameroon who came to this country in the 20s?



Yaphet Kotto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[AnegadaBVI]

Morning - I am a Anegadean BVI descendant (great grand daughter). I have been researching for many years for my Great Grandmothers travel on the steam vessel Korona on October 23, 1913 and I have not found a picture. I am requesting your help. I have emailed the ship building company in Scotland and there has not been a reply to date (Jan. 4, 2013). As I have read many of your postings, I agree to conclude to it find there has not been or limited photos, history documentation of Black - Caribbean Immigrants. I do hope to change that; I am a history student (senior); as my semester project I will be conducting my own research of the Caribbean (Black) immigrant. If you have any information that you would like to share with me for consideration for inclusion please email me. Together we must change the history of the immigrant to include the Black/Caribbean Passengers. Thank you!