Latin Americans have been transferring their culture from their native land to communities in the United States for a long time now. It can be seen from many different communities, big or small such as California, Miami, and San Diego etc. Even smaller communities are starting to see an increase in the urban transition of Latin American people along with its culture. As a Latino, our culture is something of upmost importance. We are proud to show off our heritage and publicly demonstrate our culture to the world. Growing up in a small, mostly white town known as Cortlandt Manor, it was only natural to see what lies beyond its boundaries. Just a five minute car ride away from home lies Peekskill, a city of rich history when it comes to its advancements and the residents who have inhabited the area throughout time. While at first being a predominately white community, over the years the transnational urban Latinization of Latinos in Peekskill took over. With this being said, how has the transnational urban Latinization of Latin American culture in the United States been represented in Peekskill?
When many people around my area including myself speak about Peekskill or think about Peekskill, the busy city-like center of town is what pops up into the mind; crowded streets, stores after stores, traffic lights after every block. Along with that is a huge population of Latinos. It wasn’t until a couple of summers ago when I actually went to see the outskirts of town; which lies wealthier neighborhoods and residences in which consisted almost entirely of white people. Before then I didn’t even know it existed. In the center of town, it clear to see how Latin Americans represent their culture. Through street shops, wall graffiti, family restaurants, stores etc.; they have marked their territories and represent their cultures through them. In the film, Sixth Sense by Alex Rivera, Mexican Immigrants who migrated to Newburgh made it their own. The newly built baseball stadium that they created helped their struggling community find a foundation and through the stadium they were able to elaborate and provide for themselves as well as send money back to Mexico for support. Latinos who live in Peekskill show the same idea through their own businesses, restaurants and stores. One example is a little supermarket known as “La Placita”. The market is a hot spot in the center of town and is famous for its discounted prices on foods and goods and is flooded with Latino and African American consumers. Through my many times of being there, it was extremely rare to see a white person shopping and or working there. Around the time of “Cinco de Mayo” banners are posted everywhere around town including the surrounding towns about the parade that is held on Peekskill’s Main Street. Through Carlos Decena’s article, “Putting Transnationalism to Work”, we read about his interview with Alex Rivera who created the Sixth Sense film. Alex Rivera states, “Through a cultural project, you find power and visibility. Starting with the cultural, the cosmetic, these groups raise the image of their town and find power.” (Decena 2006) Transnationalism and power is shown through “La Placita” and the Cinco de Mayo parade as it gives them a voice and representation.
Throughout
observation it’s clear to see this increase in Latin American population in
Peekskill is due to opportunity and survival. The lower cost housing in the middle
of town is where they reside, meanwhile, the whites reside in either the
outskirts of town or have moved to nearby towns including mine. The stores and
businesses in which these Latinos have started represent their given
opportunities here in the United States. The transnational Urban Latinization
of Latin American Culture has been shown in Peekskilll and I believe that the
population of Latinos in Peekskill will continue to increase as well as
opportunities for newer residents.
Work Cited:
Decena, Carlos Ulises, and Margaret Gray. "Putting
Transnationalism to Work." 2006.
https://blackboard.albany.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1951496-dt-content-rid-8928134_1/courses/2159-ALCS-283-10080/decena_sixth_section_2006.pdf
Although I've never personally been to Peekskill, I too have noticed the emergence of increasingly Latinized towns and cities throughout my life. It is interesting to see the demographics of a city, including my own hometown, changing over a period of time. I can imagine that throughout history the early settlers of Peekskill and other cities like it were experiencing an influx of European settlers. Now we are at a point in history where it seems Latinos are one of the largest immigrant groups that are having an impact on the demographic composition of cities. The supermarket you mention, "La Placita," is an example of Latino culture having a strong impact on the Peekskill. With so many Latinos in the United States, it's only a matter of time before more stores such as "La Placita" start to emerge.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your post, I could not help but think about when we talked about whites fleeing neighborhoods and how they would flee from their neighborhoods to suburbs due to a growing Latino population and it is interesting to see the almost opposite effect (I use opposite lightly meaning that the whites being on the outskirts isn’t generally the idea we think of when we think of where white individuals reside in comparison to Latinos) happening here being that whites are on the outside while Latinos are in the midst of it all, in the middle of economic activity and the culture of the town! It is clearly evident that Latinos are becoming the largest immigration group as Adam points out and it is interesting to see their effect on American cities. I do not personally know of Peekskill but it is really interesting to hear of "La Placita" and your post was a great read!
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this post, I stopped in the middle and began to think about how my hometown has changed over the years. I remember when I was one of the few Latino Students in my class way back in Elementary school, and now that I have nieces and nephews in the same Elementary school, I have noticed that there has been surprising increase with the Latino students and a decrease with White Students. THis could be due to a "white flight" type movement, or it could simply be that there have been more Latino babies born in the area and therefore increasing the Latino population. It is very interesting to read about how the Latino Population has increased in places such as Peeksill, in your the example, and compare to where I am from.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post I remembered that my town has a very present Mexican populations that has evolved over the years. I believe the reason my town is getting more Mexican residents because they are moving away from Newburgh which is 30 minutes a way from me because my town has better schools. when i first went to school there was only ever one ore two Mexicans in the whole grade but as year went by there were an abundance of Mexicans in every grade. I also noticed that there are many Mexican restaurants in the center of my town any many people go and eat there and love it who are non-Mexican.
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