NY ricans, Philly ricans, Orlando ricans, and chicago ricans (middle-class, 2014)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I got this idea from another thread: Chicago Mexicans, Los Angeles Mexicans, and maybe New York City Mexicans..
I wonder if perceptions of Puerto Ricans are different from city to city, specifically New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Chicago, the cities with the largest PR populations and most notable regional sub-cultures. Though, New York and Chicago's Puerto Rican influence and population has been slightly fading away, the opposite has been happening in Orlando and Philadelphia, with these cities becoming "more Puerto Rican".
New York: Puerto Ricans first came to the eastside of Harlem and Alphabet city, and were heavily discriminated against, especially by italians in harlem (when east harlem was changing from italian to PR and black). Originally when PRs first started coming , there was more of an indifference between blacks and PRs, but they later but their differnces aside to combat racism in 1960s and 70s New York, and their communites largely blended in certain parts of the city. PRs in New York contributed to the creation of Hip Hop music, and break-dancing and DJing, as well as created Salsa and Freestyle music with italian and cuban artists.Though the highest concentrations of PRs can be found in areas like East Harlem, most of the bronx, especially south bronx, and bushwick, williamsburg and east ny in brooklyn. they are the city's most integrated ethnic group, smaller numbers can be found throughout the city, from astoria queens to bedstuy brooklyn. PRs make up significant portions of ppl in the city's public housing developments, as well as rikers island, the city's jail. NYs rican population has one of the highest drug addiction rates among the city's ethnic groups. Though, NYC has the largest PR population, many Puerto Ricans are leaving NY for other cities in the northeast or are moving to the south.
Orlando: The first major wave of PRs to the US was lower-income PRs migrating from rural PR to the NY area in the 1940s-60s. Now, the second major wave is middle class PRs migrating from suburban PR to central florida. Florida currently has the fastest growing PR population, and most are going to the Orlando area. The Orlando city proper is now about 16% Puerto Rican alone, with some southern and eastern suburbs being about 30-40% Puerto Rican. They are beginning to have clout, similar to the african american population in atlanta or the cuban population in miami, with many middle-class american-dream type Puerto Rican neighborhoods in Orlando. Though, they do have their share of some crime and poverty present, its nowhere near to the effect of the Puerto Rican populations in Philly, NYC and other northern cities.
Philadelphia: When PRs first started coming they set up shop in Spring Garden, the community later largely relocated to Fairhill, due to discrimination from whites. The PR population in Philly is one of the most segregated PR communities in the country, Puerto Ricans are largely situated in eastern North Philly and Kensington areas, between the black population in central North Philly and the white population in fishtown, port richmond, lower northeast areas. The Puerto Rican population is credited for revitalizing North 5th street, with blocks and blocks of Puerto Rican-owned businesses. Though, the PR community has also known to be very heavily involved in the city's drug trade, with Puerto Rican drugdealers turning 3rd and indiana and other well known intersections into open-air drug corners.
Chicago: When PRs first started coming to chicago, they came to areas in the near northside, though quickly pushed westward due to gentrification and discrimination. They were heavily active in Chicago's gang culture, and contributed to the creation of gangs (some of which they partnered with mexicans to create) like the latin kings, one of the largest street gangs in the us, as well as the maniac latin disciples and latin eagles in the folks nation, the Puerto Rican stones, a break-off of the Black P. Stones, and the Young Lords, which later to into a political activist group, similar to the Black Panther party. Humboldt Park has been designated the only "official" Puerto Rican neighborhood in the country.
It's funny about the NY ricans because my mom is Rican and my dad is Italian. My dad's family loves my mom. Most of my PR family is very very into the Nuyorican culture because they all live in the Bronx or Brooklyn. Always tryna act gangster lol.
Note: THERES LOWER-CLASS & MIDDLE-CLASS PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITIES IN ALL THESE CITIES & SMALLER ONES ACROSS THE NATION. THE LOWER CLASS PR COMMUNITIES ARE JUST REPRESENTED MORE IN THESE CITIES, CUZ OF THE FAR LARGER PR POPULATIONS. BUT EACH OF THESE CITIES DO HAVE DO HAVE BOTH LARGE LOWER-CLASS PR COMMUNITIES AND SMALLER MIDDLE-CLASS ONES, WHICH ARE A LITTLE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY.
Philadelphia: http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Puerto_Ricans_in_Philadelphia
Most of the videos take place in the North Philadelphia ghetto, particularly Fairhill, hunting park and kensington, and doesnt represent your average Puerto Rican. In fact, the are significant middle class PR populations in Northeast and Uptown sections of Philly, especially the Juniata, Lawncrest, Oxford circle, port richmond, feltonville and olney
I'm from Michigan and love the Rican influence in Chicago! Most Ricans are great people. I love Newyurican and Chirican House Music also. But I have a question. Why do Ricans like Pontiac and Grand Rapids so much? Pontiac is a dump, not much better than Detroit, and Grand Rapids is an uptight city full of weirdos! Both cities seem like they would be the last place Ricans would want to live.
I married a Philly PR and worked/lived in a few hi-PR population areas. I find the culture consistent from Sunset Park to Miami. I love the people and culture
I understand that some of the larger population centers such as greater New York, and central and south Fla. will have a well defined Puerto-Rican population, but I think many outside the northeast discount the population and influence throughout eastern Pennsylvania. (ie. Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, York)
I'm from Michigan and love the Rican influence in Chicago! Most Ricans are great people. I love Newyurican and Chirican House Music also. But I have a question. Why do Ricans like Pontiac and Grand Rapids so much? Pontiac is a dump, not much better than Detroit, and Grand Rapids is an uptight city full of weirdos! Both cities seem like they would be the last place Ricans would want to live.
GR has more Mexicans, typical of a Midwestern city. Milwaukee however has more PR's than other Hispanic groups. West Michigan actually is known for having a lot of Mexican folk.
I'm from Michigan and love the Rican influence in Chicago! Most Ricans are great people. I love Newyurican and Chirican House Music also. But I have a question. Why do Ricans like Pontiac and Grand Rapids so much? Pontiac is a dump, not much better than Detroit, and Grand Rapids is an uptight city full of weirdos! Both cities seem like they would be the last place Ricans would want to live.
Maybe some moved there generations ago cuz they were drawn by jobs, and once acouple go they start to bring their families...
Quote:
Originally Posted by thunderkat59
I married a Philly PR and worked/lived in a few hi-PR population areas. I find the culture consistent from Sunset Park to Miami. I love the people and culture
I was raised in Philadelphia around and by Boricuas. even though my DNA is full Dominican, culturally im partially rican. So yea i love being dominican, but i also love my Puerto Ricans, they are just like us in so many ways, with a very similar culture.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gottaq
didn't a lot of the new york ricans move to allentown, pa? that city has like 50,000 ricans in it now
Allentown always had a significant PR population. But in recent years it really has been blowing up, with some moving from NY, Philly, or straight from the island. But IDK the exact number, I do know its a large population. Many of the cities in eastern and south central Pa have large PR populations from like Bethlehem all the way down to york, and even scranton has some. though allentown and reading are probably the more notable PR population-heavy towns.
Quote:
Originally Posted by santafe400
I understand that some of the larger population centers such as greater New York, and central and south Fla. will have a well defined Puerto-Rican population, but I think many outside the northeast discount the population and influence throughout eastern Pennsylvania. (ie. Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, York)
Yea ,i mean PRs are really scattered and spread across the nation. but Florida and the Northeastern states (except maryland) has by far the largest concentrations. Maryland has a smaller PR population, compared to the area from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. California, Texas, and many areas in the south and midwest have small PR populations as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool
GR has more Mexicans, typical of a Midwestern city. Milwaukee however has more PR's than other Hispanic groups. West Michigan actually is known for having a lot of Mexican folk.
GR is awesome. The women of GR are beautiful.
Excluding buffalo and rochester (which may be a little culturally midwestern, but is in New York, a northeastern state.) Cleveland is the only major city in the entire midwest, where Puerto Ricans are the majority hispanic group, or even the largest by a slim margin. Milwaukee does have a large PR population, but its Mexican population is much larger, kinda similar to Chicago
I married a Philly PR and worked/lived in a few hi-PR population areas. I find the culture consistent from Sunset Park to Miami. I love the people and culture
Same here, absolutely love the people & culture. In a relationship with a Phillyrican, loves her style.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
