THE EFFECTS OF LATINX IMMIGRATION TO MIAMI, FLORIDA
BY STUDENT
Maimi, Florida has a larger Latinx population than any other large city in the United States. The cultural dominance of the city has taken place in many different aspects of life, making changes to ethnic composition, language, and the economy. Early Cuban immigrants in the 1980’s were the beginning of the huge wave of immigration from other Latin-American countries. By 2000, two-thirds of Miami’s population was Hispanic, and more than half of them were Cuban or of Cuban descent. 75.2% of adults in Miami speak a language other than English at home. That is significantly higher than 55.7% in Los Angeles and 47.6% in New York. The high amount of Cuban immigrants also affected the economy of southern Florida.
The “Cuban Takeover” had several economic effects on Miami. Cubans fled to Miami from the regime of Fidel Castro in the 1960s which caused a huge spurt in economic growth for the city. This made Miami an “international economic dynamo” Expansion in international trade and investment was an effect of Cuban immigrants not being able to send money home to their loved ones so that could join them in the U.S. International tourism also became a huge economic factor now that there were so many new people, which made the U.S. a lot more money. With all these new people, came new business ideas as well. "The city was transformed because of so many Cuban entrepreneurs,”
Although Cubans were the beginning of a wave of immigration and economic growth for Miami. Cubans were not the only Latinx group that changed the economic status if Miami. “A key part of this development was the expansion of Miami’s economic ties with Latin America. Brazilians, Argentines, Chileans, Colombians, and Venezuelans flooded into Miami, bringing their money with them. By 1993, some $25.6 billion in international trade, mostly involving Latin America, moved through the city.“ Some say that Cubans and only Cubans built modern Miami when in reality, it was a group effort of all the immigrants flooding in from other countries.
Bibliography
Huntington, Samuel P. “The Hispanic Challenge.” Foreign Policy, 28 Oct. 2009, foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/28/the-hispanic-challenge/.
“Not Just Cubans: Many Latinos Now Call Miami Home.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 11 June 2015, www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/not-just-cubans-many-latinos-now-call-miami-home-n37241.
Maimi, Florida has a larger Latinx population than any other large city in the United States. The cultural dominance of the city has taken place in many different aspects of life, making changes to ethnic composition, language, and the economy. Early Cuban immigrants in the 1980’s were the beginning of the huge wave of immigration from other Latin-American countries. By 2000, two-thirds of Miami’s population was Hispanic, and more than half of them were Cuban or of Cuban descent. 75.2% of adults in Miami speak a language other than English at home. That is significantly higher than 55.7% in Los Angeles and 47.6% in New York. The high amount of Cuban immigrants also affected the economy of southern Florida.
The “Cuban Takeover” had several economic effects on Miami. Cubans fled to Miami from the regime of Fidel Castro in the 1960s which caused a huge spurt in economic growth for the city. This made Miami an “international economic dynamo” Expansion in international trade and investment was an effect of Cuban immigrants not being able to send money home to their loved ones so that could join them in the U.S. International tourism also became a huge economic factor now that there were so many new people, which made the U.S. a lot more money. With all these new people, came new business ideas as well. "The city was transformed because of so many Cuban entrepreneurs,”
Although Cubans were the beginning of a wave of immigration and economic growth for Miami. Cubans were not the only Latinx group that changed the economic status if Miami. “A key part of this development was the expansion of Miami’s economic ties with Latin America. Brazilians, Argentines, Chileans, Colombians, and Venezuelans flooded into Miami, bringing their money with them. By 1993, some $25.6 billion in international trade, mostly involving Latin America, moved through the city.“ Some say that Cubans and only Cubans built modern Miami when in reality, it was a group effort of all the immigrants flooding in from other countries.
Bibliography
Huntington, Samuel P. “The Hispanic Challenge.” Foreign Policy, 28 Oct. 2009, foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/28/the-hispanic-challenge/.
“Not Just Cubans: Many Latinos Now Call Miami Home.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 11 June 2015, www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/not-just-cubans-many-latinos-now-call-miami-home-n37241.
Wow great post! Didn't know that how much Cubans contributed to Miami. Latin America's influence in the city struck me the most because it was several Latinx that helped this city proper. Does Miami have a name to acknowledge its diversity like New York has the name "Melting Pot" to consider all the different cultures that reside there.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how conversations of race and ethnicity are happening in Florida. Often times when people see races or cultures other than their own, they become very scared and protective of "their space". We have seen time and time again that the Latinx community has aided exponentially to economic growth in several different regions but I am sure there are people who are very against the population increase of Latinos.
ReplyDeleteNice! I've always thought it was Cubans that developed and expanded Miami. When I was growing up I always watched CSI: Miami and throughout the show the Latinos portrayed were always of Cuban descent. They were also often stereotyped and lived in barrios. I'm curious as to how the living conditions are among the different cultures. Do they kind of segregate or differentiate themselves or come together under one Latin group?
ReplyDeleteThis was very enjoyable to read and very informative. I had always thought due to past classes that Cubans were the main community responsible for the development of Miami. It was very interesting to learn that this is not the case and that there are other communities involved. Do you think there is a particular reason that so many communities have been removed from the history?
ReplyDelete-Deandra B.
I really enjoyed your blog post, especially since it’s in Miami which I love. It all started with the big wave of Cubans in the 1980s. What I found interesting is that in Miami 75.2 percent speak a language other than English at home, which is higher than any other big city like New York City or Los Angeles. Many Cubans had to flee due to the regime of Fidel Castro which had an effect on economic growth in the city. Many may say that speaking Spanish or the high number of Latinx population is a burden but Miami is a great example of how it isn’t. I remember when I went to Miami and all I heard was people speak in Spanish and only communicate in Spanish anywhere I went which I found as a surprise since I wasn’t used to it in New York City.
ReplyDelete