00:00:01.126 --> 00:00:02.919
VIEWERS LIKE YOU MAKE
THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

00:00:03.002 --> 00:00:05.422
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION.

00:00:14.013 --> 00:00:18.309
Woman: IT WAS SUDDEN BECAUSE
WE HAD TO LEAVE IN A HURRY.

00:00:18.393 --> 00:00:21.771
MY FATHER WAS
IN THE UNDERGROUND.

00:00:21.855 --> 00:00:25.316
IT WAS KIND OF THRILLING
BUT SCARY

00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:27.944
BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT ADULTS
WERE SO NERVOUS

00:00:28.027 --> 00:00:31.823
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF WE
WERE GONNA MANAGE TO GET OUT.

00:00:31.906 --> 00:00:33.491
THE PLANE KEPT GETTING DELAYED
AND DELAYED.

00:00:33.575 --> 00:00:35.243
PAPI THOUGHT THAT MAYBE
THE SECRET POLICE

00:00:35.326 --> 00:00:37.787
WERE GONNA COME GET HIM, GET US.

00:00:39.247 --> 00:00:41.499
Narrator: MIDSUMMER 1960,

00:00:41.583 --> 00:00:43.334
JULIA ALVAREZ AND HER FAMILY

00:00:43.418 --> 00:00:45.837
WERE ESCAPING
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:47.964
AND ONE OF
THE MOST RUTHLESS DICTATORS

00:00:48.047 --> 00:00:50.800
IN THE HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA,

00:00:50.884 --> 00:00:53.803
GENERAL RAFAEL
LEONIDAS TRUJILLO.

00:00:54.888 --> 00:00:58.141
DR. EDUARDO ALVAREZ
WAS ON HIS HIT LIST,

00:00:58.224 --> 00:01:03.480
AND THE AMERICANS WERE HELPING
HIM AND HIS FAMILY TO LEAVE.

00:01:06.733 --> 00:01:11.780
THE ALVAREZ FAMILY WAS PART
OF A VAST CARIBBEAN MIGRATION--

00:01:11.863 --> 00:01:15.784
PIONEERS
OF A NEW DOMINICAN WAVE.

00:01:15.867 --> 00:01:18.203
Julia Alvarez: WE HAD SOME AUNTS
UP IN THE BRONX

00:01:18.286 --> 00:01:20.538
THAT HAD BEEN HERE
FROM THE 1940S,

00:01:20.622 --> 00:01:22.165
BUT THAT WAS IT.

00:01:22.248 --> 00:01:25.835
YOU KNOW, IT WAS MOSTLY
PUERTO RICANS, SOME CUBANS,

00:01:25.919 --> 00:01:28.797
BUT VERY FEW DOMINICANS.

00:01:28.880 --> 00:01:31.841
PEOPLE, WHEN WE FIRST CAME,
THEY'D HEAR AN ACCENT,

00:01:31.925 --> 00:01:33.343
"WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

00:01:33.426 --> 00:01:36.221
DOMINIQUE?
YOU MEAN DOMINIQUE?"

00:01:36.304 --> 00:01:40.266
I, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST--
I ENDED UP SOLVING IT

00:01:40.350 --> 00:01:41.893
BY SAYING
I'M FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

00:01:41.976 --> 00:01:43.019
HA HA!

00:01:43.102 --> 00:01:44.979
THEY KNEW WHERE THAT WAS
BECAUSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW,

00:01:45.063 --> 00:01:46.147
WHERE PEOPLE WENT FOR VACATION.

00:01:46.231 --> 00:01:48.149
I'M FROM THE CARIBBEAN,
YOU KNOW.

00:01:48.233 --> 00:01:50.610
IT'S LIKE SAYING I'M FROM
AFRICA, I'M FROM EUROPE,

00:01:50.693 --> 00:01:51.986
I'M FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

00:01:52.070 --> 00:01:55.240
Narrator: AS THEY BUILT
A LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY,

00:01:55.323 --> 00:01:57.826
THE FAMILY HELD ON
TO THE INDELIBLE MEMORIES

00:01:57.909 --> 00:01:59.869
OF THE NATION THEY LEFT BEHIND.

00:01:59.953 --> 00:02:03.289
Julia Alvarez: IMMIGRATION MEANS
EVERYBODY CHANGES.

00:02:03.373 --> 00:02:06.334
YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE,
YOU KNOW,

00:02:06.417 --> 00:02:09.212
BUT CERTAIN THINGS ARE IMPORTANT
TO HOLD ON TO

00:02:09.295 --> 00:02:13.258
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
THIS CULTURE NEEDS IT,

00:02:13.341 --> 00:02:16.219
THIS CULTURE NEEDS
CERTAIN THINGS FROM US.

00:02:16.302 --> 00:02:19.764
Narrator: IN THE YEARS
AFTER WORLD WAR II,

00:02:19.848 --> 00:02:22.767
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
WOULD COME FROM CUBA,

00:02:22.851 --> 00:02:24.394
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,

00:02:24.477 --> 00:02:25.854
PUERTO RICO,

00:02:25.937 --> 00:02:29.023
AND CREATE NEW LIVES IN AMERICA.

00:02:29.107 --> 00:02:31.901
LIKE SO MANY IMMIGRANTS
BEFORE THEM,

00:02:31.985 --> 00:02:34.696
THEY WOULD STRUGGLE,
CONFRONT PREJUDICE,

00:02:34.779 --> 00:02:37.615
AND SEIZE OPPORTUNITY.

00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:39.576
JULIA ALVAREZ WOULD BECOME

00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:44.622
AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN LITERARY
VOICE OF HER GENERATION.

00:02:44.706 --> 00:02:46.249
AN ORPHAN BOY FROM PUERTO RICO

00:02:46.332 --> 00:02:48.960
WOULD DEFY
A SEGREGATED EDUCATION

00:02:49.043 --> 00:02:51.963
AND BECOME A U.S. CONGRESSMAN.

00:02:52.046 --> 00:02:54.382
A CUBAN MAN AND HIS TWO SONS

00:02:54.465 --> 00:02:57.176
WOULD SURVIVE
A PERILOUS VOYAGE AT SEA

00:02:57.260 --> 00:03:01.472
AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE MAKING
OF AN AMERICAN CITY.

00:03:01.556 --> 00:03:03.641
AND THE DAUGHTER
OF A SWEATSHOP WORKER

00:03:03.725 --> 00:03:07.854
WOULD WIN THE HIGHEST HONORS
ON BROADWAY AND IN HOLLYWOOD.

00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:29.667
Woman: IMAGINE COMING TO THIS
COUNTRY WHEN YOU'RE 5 YEARS OLD,

00:03:29.751 --> 00:03:33.796
AND EVERYTHING IS NOT ONLY
FREEZING COLD, BUT IT'S GRAY.

00:03:33.880 --> 00:03:37.634
THERE WASN'T A TREE ANYWHERE,
THERE WASN'T ANYTHING GREEN.

00:03:37.717 --> 00:03:40.345
THERE WASN'T ANYTHING COLORFUL
ANYWHERE.

00:03:40.428 --> 00:03:42.263
IT'S AS THOUGH
I HAD LEFT PARADISE

00:03:42.347 --> 00:03:45.475
AND SORT OF GONE TO
A VERY COLD HELL.

00:03:45.558 --> 00:03:48.770
Narrator: RITA MORENO
AND HER MOTHER, ROSA MARIA,

00:03:48.853 --> 00:03:52.815
ARRIVED IN NEW YORK'S
SPANISH HARLEM IN THE 1930s.

00:03:52.899 --> 00:03:56.152
Rita Moreno:
MY MOTHER DECIDED THAT, UH,

00:03:56.235 --> 00:03:58.112
SHE WANTED A BETTER LIFE
FOR BOTH OF US.

00:03:58.196 --> 00:04:03.618
AND SHE MADE IT SOUND LIKE
WE WERE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW,

00:04:03.701 --> 00:04:06.162
THIS AMAZING NEW LIFE.

00:04:06.245 --> 00:04:08.957
Narrator: RITA'S MOTHER
WENT TO WORK AT A SWEATSHOP

00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:12.168
WHERE MANY OF THE NEW IMMIGRANTS
WERE ABLE TO FIND JOBS

00:04:12.251 --> 00:04:14.337
FOR A MEAGER WAGE.

00:04:14.420 --> 00:04:16.130
Moreno: MY MOM WORKED, YOU KNOW,
VICIOUS HOURS

00:04:16.214 --> 00:04:17.340
FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY.

00:04:17.423 --> 00:04:20.134
BUT AT THE TIME
SHE WAS MAKING MONEY!

00:04:20.218 --> 00:04:25.473
AND INITIALLY WE STAYED IN
AN AUNT'S TENEMENT APARTMENT

00:04:25.556 --> 00:04:27.433
WITH 3 OTHER FAMILIES.

00:04:30.061 --> 00:04:32.647
Narrator:
RITA ALSO WENT TO WORK--

00:04:32.730 --> 00:04:36.234
MAKING HER DANCE DEBUT AT
A GREENWICH VILLAGE NIGHTCLUB.

00:04:36.317 --> 00:04:38.736
SHE WAS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD.

00:04:38.820 --> 00:04:40.488
YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEARD
THAT APPLAUSE, I SAID,

00:04:40.571 --> 00:04:43.241
"WHO NEEDS SCHOOL?

00:04:43.324 --> 00:04:46.995
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE."

00:04:47.078 --> 00:04:50.665
Narrator: SHE DREAMED OF
BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD.

00:04:50.748 --> 00:04:54.669
FOR ANY CHILD OF THE DEPRESSION
THOSE WERE DISTANT DREAMS,

00:04:54.752 --> 00:04:58.089
MORE SO FOR RITA
IN A PLACE THAT WAS FOREIGN

00:04:58.172 --> 00:05:01.009
AND IN A LANGUAGE NOT HER OWN.

00:05:01.092 --> 00:05:06.139
Moreno: AND IT WAS REALLY AN
UPHILL, UPSTREAM KIND OF SWIM.

00:05:09.392 --> 00:05:12.228
Narrator: IN THE EARLY YEARS
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION,

00:05:12.311 --> 00:05:15.440
NEW YORK STILL OFFERED,
FOR PUERTO RICANS,

00:05:15.523 --> 00:05:18.109
A WAY OUT OF THE MISERY
OF THE ISLAND.

00:05:20.987 --> 00:05:23.698
A U.S. TERRITORY SINCE 1898,

00:05:23.781 --> 00:05:26.951
PUERTO RICO WAS HIT HARDER
BY THE GREAT DEPRESSION

00:05:27.035 --> 00:05:29.412
THAN THE U.S. MAINLAND.

00:05:29.495 --> 00:05:32.290
SUGAR, GROWN MOSTLY
BY AMERICAN COMPANIES

00:05:32.373 --> 00:05:36.377
FOR THE AMERICAN MARKET,
WAS THE ISLAND'S MAIN CROP.

00:05:36.461 --> 00:05:40.381
WHEN SUGAR PRICES COLLAPSED
DURING THE DEPRESSION,

00:05:40.465 --> 00:05:43.384
PUERTO RICANS WERE PLUNGED
INTO DEVASTATING POVERTY

00:05:43.468 --> 00:05:46.804
THAT LASTED INTO THE 1940s.

00:05:49.182 --> 00:05:53.102
IN 1947, THE PUERTO RICAN
GOVERNMENT TOOK ACTION,

00:05:53.186 --> 00:05:55.313
IMPLEMENTING A HISTORIC OVERHAUL

00:05:55.396 --> 00:05:58.524
THAT WOULD TRANSFORM CENTURIES
OF AGRICULTURAL DEPENDENCE

00:05:58.608 --> 00:06:01.277
INTO A MODERN
INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY.

00:06:03.071 --> 00:06:06.949
IT WAS CALLED
OPERATION BOOTSTRAP.

00:06:07.033 --> 00:06:09.619
Man: PUERTO RICO
HELD OUT THE OPPORTUNITY

00:06:09.702 --> 00:06:12.997
FOR CHEAP LABOR AND NO TAXES,

00:06:13.081 --> 00:06:15.041
AND THEY BEGAN WOOING
AMERICAN COMPANIES

00:06:15.124 --> 00:06:16.501
TO COME TO PUERTO RICO,

00:06:16.584 --> 00:06:19.545
CLOSE THEIR OPERATIONS
IN THE UNITED STATES

00:06:19.629 --> 00:06:21.672
AND COME TO THE ISLAND.

00:06:21.756 --> 00:06:24.008
SO, MANY COMPANIES
DID SET UP SHOP

00:06:24.092 --> 00:06:27.512
IN PUERTO RICO IN THE 1950s,

00:06:27.595 --> 00:06:31.140
BUT NO MATTER HOW MANY COMPANIES
SET UP SHOP,

00:06:31.224 --> 00:06:32.600
THERE WERE MORE AND MORE
PUERTO RICANS

00:06:32.683 --> 00:06:35.645
THAT WERE COMING OFF THE LAND
AND STILL UNEMPLOYED.

00:06:35.728 --> 00:06:38.272
Narrator:
A U.S. GOVERNMENT STUDY

00:06:38.356 --> 00:06:40.691
ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST
ONE MILLION PUERTO RICANS

00:06:40.775 --> 00:06:42.610
WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE ISLAND

00:06:42.693 --> 00:06:46.155
FOR OPERATION BOOTSTRAP
TO SUCCEED.

00:06:46.239 --> 00:06:50.993
AMONG THOSE WHO LEFT
WAS JUANITA ORTIZ,

00:06:51.077 --> 00:06:55.790
WHO GREW UP ON A FARM,
THE SIXTH OF 12 SIBLINGS.

00:06:55.873 --> 00:06:59.627
Woman: I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY
FOR THE TICKET, PLANE TICKET,

00:06:59.710 --> 00:07:04.799
BUT I BORROW FROM MY,
ONE OF MY BEST BROTHERS,

00:07:04.882 --> 00:07:06.717
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO ASK
MY FATHER

00:07:06.801 --> 00:07:10.638
BECAUSE HE WOULD SAY,
"NO, NO. DON'T GO."

00:07:10.721 --> 00:07:14.642
AND IT WAS VERY CHEAP,
THE PLANE TICKET.

00:07:14.725 --> 00:07:18.187
Narrator: IT WAS THE FIRST
AIRBORNE MASS MIGRATION

00:07:18.271 --> 00:07:19.981
IN AMERICAN HISTORY;

00:07:20.064 --> 00:07:23.651
A DOZEN DAILY FLIGHTS FERRIED
PUERTO RICANS FROM SAN JUAN

00:07:23.734 --> 00:07:26.946
TO IDLEWILD
AND LaGUARDIA AIRPORTS.

00:07:27.029 --> 00:07:29.824
AMERICAN CITIZENS SINCE 1917,

00:07:29.907 --> 00:07:33.578
PUERTO RICANS HAD NO BARRIERS
TO TRAVEL TO THE MAINLAND,

00:07:33.661 --> 00:07:38.457
ONLY A LIMITED IDEA
OF WHAT THEY WOULD ENCOUNTER.

00:07:38.541 --> 00:07:40.751
Juanita Sanabria: SO I DIDN'T
HAVE AGAIN A GOOD COAT,

00:07:40.835 --> 00:07:45.006
SO MY COUSIN GAVE ME
AN OLD COAT,

00:07:45.089 --> 00:07:49.135
BUT BY THAT TIME
WE DIDN'T WEAR NO PANTS.

00:07:49.218 --> 00:07:51.095
NO HEAVY JACKET, NOTHING,

00:07:51.179 --> 00:07:56.767
JUST DRESSES AND LONG SKIRTS,
AND I SAID, "UH-UH,

00:07:56.851 --> 00:07:59.979
I THINK I'M GOING TO GO BACK
TO PUERTO RICO."

00:08:03.608 --> 00:08:06.194
Narrator:
THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY,

00:08:06.277 --> 00:08:10.239
ESTABLISHED WITH FEWER
THAN 20,000 PEOPLE IN 1917,

00:08:10.323 --> 00:08:12.450
SWELLED TO MORE THAN 300,000

00:08:12.533 --> 00:08:16.704
BY THE TIME JUANITA
ARRIVED IN 1952.

00:08:16.787 --> 00:08:20.833
MOST SETTLED IN EAST HARLEM,
"EL BARRIO,"

00:08:20.917 --> 00:08:22.710
THE CULTURAL
AND COMMERCIAL CENTER

00:08:22.793 --> 00:08:25.129
OF LATINO LIFE IN NEW YORK.

00:08:25.213 --> 00:08:27.256
Woman: YOU COULD FEEL IT.

00:08:27.340 --> 00:08:28.633
YOU COULD HEAR IT.
YOU COULD SMELL IT.

00:08:28.716 --> 00:08:31.510
YOU COULD SMELL THE FOODS
COMING OUT OF THE RESTAURANTS

00:08:31.594 --> 00:08:35.223
WHERE THEY WERE COOKING
TRADITIONAL PUERTO RICAN FOOD.

00:08:35.306 --> 00:08:39.519
YOU WOULD HEAR THE LANGUAGE
SPOKEN IN THE STREETS.

00:08:39.602 --> 00:08:42.438
YOU WOULD HEAR MOTHERS
CALLING THEIR CHILDREN

00:08:42.521 --> 00:08:46.901
FROM THEIR FIFTH-STORY
APARTMENT HOUSE WINDOWS

00:08:46.984 --> 00:08:48.778
DOWN TO THE STREETS.

00:08:50.112 --> 00:08:52.657
Narrator: IT WAS A COMMUNITY
THAT STUCK TOGETHER,

00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:54.367
BOUND BY THEIR ROOTS...

00:08:54.450 --> 00:08:59.914
HELPING EACH OTHER THROUGH TOUGH
TIMES AND CELEBRATING THE GOOD.

00:08:59.997 --> 00:09:01.791
Virginia Sanchez Korrol:
PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE ARE

00:09:01.874 --> 00:09:04.543
SO RESILIENT IN SO MANY WAYS.

00:09:06.337 --> 00:09:09.340
[SALSA MUSIC PLAYING]

00:09:09.423 --> 00:09:12.551
THEY WOULD HAVE RENT PARTIES
TO PAY THEIR RENT.

00:09:12.635 --> 00:09:14.929
EVERY WEEKEND,
THEY WOULD OPEN THEIR HOME,

00:09:15.012 --> 00:09:18.849
FOR MUSIC AND DANCING,
AND CHARGE THE GUESTS

00:09:18.933 --> 00:09:22.103
IF THEY WERE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.

00:09:22.186 --> 00:09:25.439
THAT WAY, THE HOSTESS
WOULD EARN ENOUGH MONEY

00:09:25.523 --> 00:09:28.609
TO PAY THE RENT
FOR THAT MONTH.

00:09:32.655 --> 00:09:33.823
Narrator:
EVERY NIGHT THOSE SOUNDS

00:09:33.906 --> 00:09:35.032
WOULD MAKE THEIR WAY

00:09:35.116 --> 00:09:37.827
FROM EL BARRIO
TO MIDTOWN NIGHTCLUBS,

00:09:37.910 --> 00:09:41.414
FUELING A DANCE CRAZE
THAT WOULD SWEEP THE COUNTRY.

00:09:41.497 --> 00:09:43.541
AT THE PALLADIUM CLUB
IN NEW YORK,

00:09:43.624 --> 00:09:49.130
A KID FROM EL BARRIO, NAMED TITO
PUENTE, REIGNED AT THE TIMBALES.

00:09:52.174 --> 00:09:55.636
ON THE FLOOR ANOTHER
PUERTO RICAN, CUBAN PETE,

00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.723
DANCED THE MAMBO,
MESMERIZING AUDIENCES

00:09:58.806 --> 00:10:00.641
FROM EVERY RACE
AND WALK OF LIFE.

00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:07.356
JUANITA WAS A REGULAR
AT NEW YORK'S CASINO NIGHTCLUB,

00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.567
ALWAYS WITH A CHAPERONE IN TOW,

00:10:09.650 --> 00:10:11.736
AND ON THE NIGHT
OF HER 24th BIRTHDAY,

00:10:11.819 --> 00:10:14.780
SHE MET A YOUNG MAN,
JOE SANABRIA,

00:10:14.864 --> 00:10:17.867
A PUERTO RICAN WHO HAD RECENTLY
RETURNED FROM SERVING OVERSEAS

00:10:17.950 --> 00:10:20.703
DURING THE KOREAN WAR.

00:10:20.786 --> 00:10:26.459
Juanita Sanabria:
MY FRIENDS INVITE HIM,

00:10:26.542 --> 00:10:30.880
BUT HE WAS AFTER ANOTHER GIRL.
YES!

00:10:30.963 --> 00:10:31.881
NOT REALLY.

00:10:31.964 --> 00:10:33.466
OH, YES,
BECAUSE--

00:10:33.549 --> 00:10:36.510
EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS
NICE-LOOKING AND EVERYTHING,

00:10:36.594 --> 00:10:37.553
BUT SHE GAVE ME
THE BRUSH OFF.

00:10:37.636 --> 00:10:40.639
Juanita: SO HE STARTED DANCING
WITH ME.

00:10:40.723 --> 00:10:43.517
Joe Sanabria:
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

00:10:44.435 --> 00:10:46.270
Narrator:
JOE AND JUANITA WERE MARRIED

00:10:46.354 --> 00:10:48.564
IN THE BASEMENT
OF A LOCAL CHURCH.

00:10:48.647 --> 00:10:51.192
HER DRESS
RENTED FOR $75,

00:10:51.275 --> 00:10:54.153
MONEY SHE HAD SAVED
EARNING $29 A WEEK

00:10:54.236 --> 00:10:57.365
AS A FLOOR GIRL
IN A BRONX FACTORY.

00:10:59.116 --> 00:11:02.078
Juanita Sanabria: I WENT TO WORK
IN THIS FACTORY,

00:11:02.161 --> 00:11:04.747
HALF SLIPS FOR LADIES.

00:11:04.830 --> 00:11:07.792
I USED TO SEPARATE THE GARMENTS,

00:11:07.875 --> 00:11:09.460
AND WHEN I FINISHED THAT BUNDLE,
I TIE IT UP

00:11:09.543 --> 00:11:13.381
AND PUT A TICKET AND THEN
I TAKE ANOTHER ONE LIKE THAT.

00:11:15.174 --> 00:11:17.343
Narrator:
WITH THEIR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN,

00:11:17.426 --> 00:11:19.220
JOE AND JUANITA
MOVED THEIR FAMILY

00:11:19.303 --> 00:11:21.555
FROM THEIR CRAMPED
TENEMENT APARTMENT

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:25.142
INTO A MORE SPACIOUS ONE
IN THE BRONX.

00:11:25.226 --> 00:11:28.813
FAR FROM THE PUERTO RICAN
COUNTRYSIDE OF THEIR CHILDHOOD,

00:11:28.896 --> 00:11:31.232
THE SANABRIAS WERE
FINALLY FEELING AT HOME

00:11:31.315 --> 00:11:34.443
IN THE UNITED STATES.

00:11:34.527 --> 00:11:38.072
Juan Gonzalez:
THE PUERTO RICANS FELT AMERICAN.

00:11:38.155 --> 00:11:41.158
THEY FELT THEY WERE
U.S. CITIZENS.

00:11:41.242 --> 00:11:43.285
BUT WHAT THEY ENCOUNTERED
WHEN THEY GOT HERE

00:11:43.369 --> 00:11:46.914
WAS A DIFFERENT VIEW
OF WHO THEY WERE.

00:11:48.624 --> 00:11:50.292
Narrator:
JUST AS AFRICAN AMERICANS

00:11:50.376 --> 00:11:52.670
HAD BEEN DENIED EQUAL RIGHTS
AS CITIZENS,

00:11:52.753 --> 00:11:55.840
SO, TOO, WERE MOST
PUERTO RICANS.

00:11:55.923 --> 00:11:58.300
A PEOPLE OF MIXED SPANISH,
INDIGENOUS,

00:11:58.384 --> 00:11:59.635
AND AFRICAN HERITAGE,

00:11:59.718 --> 00:12:02.930
THEY WERE VIEWED
AS RACIALLY INFERIOR.

00:12:03.013 --> 00:12:05.307
AND EVEN THE LIGHT-SKINNED
JUANITA SANABRIA

00:12:05.391 --> 00:12:07.184
WOULD NOT BE SPARED.

00:12:07.268 --> 00:12:09.353
Juanita Sanabria:
AWFUL, IT WAS--

00:12:09.437 --> 00:12:11.522
LET ME TELL YOU--AWFUL.

00:12:11.605 --> 00:12:17.736
I TOOK THE BUS TO COME BACK HOME
FROM MY JOB.

00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:22.533
THIS LADY WAS SITTING
IN THE FRONT,

00:12:22.616 --> 00:12:25.035
AND I TRIED TO SIT NEXT TO HER,

00:12:25.119 --> 00:12:28.247
AND SHE WAS CALLING ME
DIRTY PUERTO RICAN,

00:12:28.330 --> 00:12:30.291
AND SHE WAS HITTING ME
WITH THE ELBOW,

00:12:30.374 --> 00:12:33.294
AND SHE HIT ME WITH A CANE.

00:12:33.377 --> 00:12:36.755
SHE HIT ME WITH THE CANE,
AND SHE HIT ME UNDER MY LEGS.

00:12:36.839 --> 00:12:40.426
AND A LOT
OF TEENAGERS LAUGHING,

00:12:40.509 --> 00:12:43.304
"DIRTY PUERTO RICAN,
GO BACK TO PUERTO RICO."

00:12:46.182 --> 00:12:48.017
Narrator: RACE AND ETHNICITY

00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:51.228
INCREASINGLY BECAME A SOURCE
OF CONFLICT FOR PUERTO RICANS

00:12:51.312 --> 00:12:53.189
IN NEW YORK.

00:12:53.272 --> 00:12:55.649
AS THE PUERTO RICAN POPULATION
DOUBLED,

00:12:55.733 --> 00:12:58.402
THEY PUSHED AGAINST THE EDGES
OF EAST HARLEM,

00:12:58.486 --> 00:13:01.363
SPREADING OUT TO OTHER PARTS
OF MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN,

00:13:01.447 --> 00:13:03.782
AND THE SOUTH BRONX.

00:13:03.866 --> 00:13:07.036
THE JEWS, IRISH, AND ITALIANS
WHO'D BEEN THERE FIRST

00:13:07.119 --> 00:13:09.622
PUSHED BACK.

00:13:12.208 --> 00:13:15.544
TURF--SOMETIMES A MERE
TWO-BLOCK STRETCH--

00:13:15.628 --> 00:13:18.672
WAS FIERCELY DEFENDED
BY ADOLESCENT BOYS

00:13:18.756 --> 00:13:21.217
IN GANGS LIKE
THE LATIN CROWNS,

00:13:21.300 --> 00:13:23.511
THE SCORPIONS,
THE DRAGONS,

00:13:23.594 --> 00:13:25.221
THE VAMPIRES

00:13:25.304 --> 00:13:29.058
IN HARLEM, HELL'S KITCHEN,
THE LOWER EAST SIDE.

00:13:29.141 --> 00:13:32.353
Juan Gonzalez: THE YOUTH
WERE TRYING DESPERATELY

00:13:32.436 --> 00:13:35.439
TO COPE WITH BEING THRUST
INTO THIS METROPOLIS

00:13:35.523 --> 00:13:37.441
WITH ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT GROUPS

00:13:37.525 --> 00:13:39.276
AND WITH NOT MUCH GUIDANCE.

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:42.279
WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS

00:13:42.363 --> 00:13:45.533
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
LOOKED AT THESE GANGS

00:13:45.616 --> 00:13:50.663
AS THEIR ONLY FAMILY OR THEIR
ONLY WAY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES

00:13:50.746 --> 00:13:53.499
AGAINST A HOSTILE SOCIETY.

00:13:55.918 --> 00:13:58.212
Narrator: THE NEW YORK PRESS
GREW OBSESSED

00:13:58.295 --> 00:13:59.797
WITH THE GANG STORY...

00:13:59.880 --> 00:14:04.510
AND IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND, PUERTO
RICANS WERE AT THE CENTER OF IT.

00:14:08.138 --> 00:14:10.099
THEN A TRAGIC INCIDENT

00:14:10.182 --> 00:14:15.187
THAT ONLY REINFORCED THE
PUBLIC IMAGE OF PUERTO RICANS.

00:14:15.271 --> 00:14:18.357
Man: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
KILLING THOSE TWO BOYS?

00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:21.527
I FEEL LIKE I ALWAYS FEEL.

00:14:21.610 --> 00:14:22.570
Man: HOW'S THAT?

00:14:22.653 --> 00:14:24.488
LIKE THIS, LIKE I AM.

00:14:24.572 --> 00:14:25.781
Man:
ARE YOU SORRY FOR THEM?

00:14:25.864 --> 00:14:27.449
Different man:
ARE YOU SORRY?

00:14:27.533 --> 00:14:30.452
THAT'S FOR ME TO KNOW
AND FOR YOU TO FIND OUT.

00:14:30.536 --> 00:14:33.247
Narrator: 16-YEAR-OLD
SALVADOR AGRON

00:14:33.330 --> 00:14:35.291
WAS ACCUSED OF MURDERING
TWO TEENAGERS

00:14:35.374 --> 00:14:39.587
IN A HELL'S KITCHEN PLAYGROUND
WHILE WEARING A LONG BLACK CAPE.

00:14:43.674 --> 00:14:45.217
Sanchez Korrol:
HE BECOMES THE FACE

00:14:45.301 --> 00:14:48.679
OF THIS THREATENING COMMUNITY
THAT'S GROWING IN SIZE,

00:14:48.762 --> 00:14:51.640
THAT IS SPEAKING IN SPANISH.

00:14:51.724 --> 00:14:53.976
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ALLOWING
INTO THE COUNTRY.

00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:58.022
THIS IS HOW OUR--THIS IS HOW
OUR SOCIETY IS DETERIORATING.

00:14:58.105 --> 00:15:00.983
BUT FOR
THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY,

00:15:01.066 --> 00:15:03.986
I THINK THERE'S MORE OF
A SADNESS CONNECTED WITH IT

00:15:04.069 --> 00:15:06.238
IN THE SENSE THAT...

00:15:06.322 --> 00:15:08.991
HE IS ONE OF OUR KIDS AND
LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO HIM,

00:15:09.074 --> 00:15:13.370
AND I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO MINE.

00:15:18.125 --> 00:15:21.462
Narrator: A FEW BLOCKS
FROM WHERE THE CAPEMAN STRUCK,

00:15:21.545 --> 00:15:25.799
A MUSICAL WAS PLAYING ON
BROADWAY, "WEST SIDE STORY."

00:15:27.217 --> 00:15:30.679
IT WAS A POLISH ROMEO
AND PUERTO RICAN JULIET

00:15:30.763 --> 00:15:33.223
SET IN A NEW YORK CITY
WHERE ETHNIC HATRED

00:15:33.307 --> 00:15:39.021
SURGED THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS AND
GANGS LURKED IN DEFENSE OF TURF.

00:15:39.104 --> 00:15:41.231
THE FILM VERSION
FOREVER ETCHED THE IMAGE

00:15:41.315 --> 00:15:43.108
OF THE KNIFE-WIELDING
PUERTO RICAN

00:15:43.192 --> 00:15:45.986
IN THE AMERICAN CONSCIOUSNESS.

00:15:46.070 --> 00:15:49.406
THE LEADING ROLE OF MARIA
WENT TO NATALIE WOOD,

00:15:49.490 --> 00:15:51.575
THE DAUGHTER
OF RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS,

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:55.079
AND HER BROTHER BERNARDO
WAS PLAYED BY GEORGE CHAKIRIS,

00:15:55.162 --> 00:15:57.081
THE SON OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS.

00:15:57.164 --> 00:16:01.919
ONLY ONE PUERTO RICAN WAS ABLE
TO SNATCH A SPEAKING ROLE.

00:16:02.002 --> 00:16:06.548
RITA MORENO WAS CAST
AS THE SPIRITED ANITA.

00:16:06.632 --> 00:16:10.844
RITA HAD GOTTEN HER FIRST ROLE
ON BROADWAY AT 13

00:16:10.928 --> 00:16:14.765
AND SOON LEFT FOR HOLLYWOOD
STILL A TEENAGER.

00:16:14.848 --> 00:16:18.602
"A HISPANIC ELIZABETH TAYLOR,"
OBSERVED LOUIS B MAYER,

00:16:18.686 --> 00:16:21.355
AND SIGNED HER FOR MGM.

00:16:21.438 --> 00:16:23.399
Moreno:
IT WASN'T ELIZABETH TAYLOR,

00:16:23.482 --> 00:16:26.485
BUT THE--THE HISPANIC PART
FOLLOWED ME EVERYWHERE.

00:16:26.568 --> 00:16:29.530
I HAD PARTS THAT ONLY REQUIRED
ACCENTS

00:16:29.613 --> 00:16:31.073
AND VERY. VERY DARK MAKEUP

00:16:31.156 --> 00:16:33.617
BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW,
EVERY HISPANIC IN THE WORLD

00:16:33.701 --> 00:16:35.285
IS VERY, VERY, VERY DARK.

00:16:36.870 --> 00:16:39.665
- THEY WOULD HAVE...
- I DO NOT BLAME THEM.

00:16:39.748 --> 00:16:43.168
Narrator: MORENO WAS TYPECAST
IN MOVIES SUCH AS "JIVARO,"

00:16:43.252 --> 00:16:46.171
"LATIN LOVERS,"
AND "PAGAN LOVE SONG."

00:16:46.255 --> 00:16:48.590
Moreno:
I PLAYED MORE INDIAN MAIDENS

00:16:48.674 --> 00:16:50.634
THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

00:16:50.718 --> 00:16:53.887
RARELY, RARELY DID I GET TO WEAR
PRETTY COSTUMES;

00:16:53.971 --> 00:16:55.723
IT WAS ALMOST ALWAYS BUCKSKINS

00:16:55.806 --> 00:17:00.644
OR PEASANT'S SKIRTS AND
PEASANT BLOUSES, LOOP EARRINGS.

00:17:00.728 --> 00:17:03.981
Narrator: THE ROLE OF ANITA
ALSO REQUIRED AN ACCENT,

00:17:04.064 --> 00:17:06.525
LOOP EARRINGS, AND DARK MAKEUP,

00:17:06.608 --> 00:17:09.987
BUT IN "WEST SIDE STORY,"
IT WAS DIFFERENT.

00:17:10.070 --> 00:17:13.157
Moreno: I UNDERSTOOD THAT
CHARACTER WITH MY EYES CLOSED.

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:16.827
THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT THAT
CHARACTER THAT PUZZLED ME.

00:17:16.910 --> 00:17:18.120
EVEN A
GREASEBALL'S GOT...

00:17:18.203 --> 00:17:19.997
Moreno: WHEN IT CAME TO
THE CANDY STORE SCENE

00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:21.999
WHERE THE BOYS ARE CALLING ME
THESE TERRIBLE NAMES...

00:17:22.082 --> 00:17:23.584
BERNARDO'S TRAMP.

00:17:23.667 --> 00:17:25.794
BERNARDO'S PIG.
LYING SPIC!

00:17:25.878 --> 00:17:27.129
DON'T DO THAT!

00:17:27.212 --> 00:17:31.967
Moreno: IT OPENED A WOUND
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THERE

00:17:32.050 --> 00:17:33.594
THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT,

00:17:33.677 --> 00:17:36.472
THAT I HAD WILLFULLY
FORGOTTEN ABOUT

00:17:36.555 --> 00:17:39.141
FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS
AND YEARS.

00:17:39.224 --> 00:17:43.187
I LEARNED EARLY, VERY EARLY ON
THAT I WAS A SPIC.

00:17:43.270 --> 00:17:47.858
I WAS SOBBING FULL OUT,
I COULDN'T STOP.

00:17:47.941 --> 00:17:50.152
AND YOU KNOW,
NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON,

00:17:50.235 --> 00:17:53.363
THEY WERE ALL TERRIFIED.

00:17:53.447 --> 00:17:57.242
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT
THAT KIND OF RACIAL HATRED

00:17:57.326 --> 00:18:03.332
WAS DEPICTED IN A MOVIE
IN A VERY REAL WAY.

00:18:05.751 --> 00:18:08.378
Narrator: IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST
TIME A PUERTO RICAN ACTRESS

00:18:08.462 --> 00:18:11.590
WAS NOMINATED FOR
HOLLYWOOD'S HIGHEST HONOR:

00:18:11.673 --> 00:18:14.635
THE ACADEMY AWARD.

00:18:14.718 --> 00:18:17.346
Man: THE NOMINEES
FOR BEST PERFORMANCE

00:18:17.429 --> 00:18:19.848
BY AN ACTRESS
IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ARE:

00:18:19.932 --> 00:18:23.769
JUDY GARLAND
IN "JUDGMENT AT NUREMBURG"

00:18:23.852 --> 00:18:25.020
AND RITA MORENO...

00:18:25.103 --> 00:18:27.189
Moreno: MY HEART IS IN MY THROAT
BECAUSE

00:18:27.272 --> 00:18:30.150
JUDY GARLAND, I THINK,
IS GOING TO WIN IT

00:18:30.234 --> 00:18:31.860
FOR "JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG."

00:18:31.944 --> 00:18:34.655
MAY I HAVE THE ENVELOPE PLEASE?

00:18:38.158 --> 00:18:41.787
RITA MORENO
FOR "WEST SIDE STORY"!

00:18:41.870 --> 00:18:44.498
[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:18:47.209 --> 00:18:49.002
Moreno: AND WHEN
THEY CALLED MY NAME,

00:18:49.086 --> 00:18:51.129
THE FIRST THING I SAID TO MYSELF
WAS, "DON'T RUN,"

00:18:51.213 --> 00:18:53.966
AND I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T.

00:18:54.049 --> 00:18:56.885
OF COURSE I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY SPEECH PREPARED.

00:18:58.762 --> 00:19:01.974
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

00:19:02.057 --> 00:19:05.894
GOOD LORD!
I LEAVE YOU WITH THAT.

00:19:05.978 --> 00:19:08.897
[MUSIC PLAYING]

00:19:27.833 --> 00:19:33.422
Man:
MY FATHER PREPARE A BOAT.

00:19:33.505 --> 00:19:37.843
A BOAT THAT WAS UNDER WATER.

00:19:37.926 --> 00:19:40.470
HE TAKE IT OFF OF THE WATER,
VERY OLD BOAT,

00:19:40.554 --> 00:19:44.558
AND HE TAKE TWO YEAR TO FIX IT.

00:19:45.684 --> 00:19:48.186
FINALLY THE DAY ARRIVED.

00:19:48.270 --> 00:19:53.734
WE'RE READY TO GO TO FREEDOM.

00:19:53.817 --> 00:19:56.612
NOW THE DECISION COME.

00:19:56.695 --> 00:20:01.658
MY FATHER HAVE TO LEFT BEHIND
ONE SON IN PRISON,

00:20:01.742 --> 00:20:07.956
MY MOTHER WITH 3 LITTLE KIDS.

00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:11.793
THE TOUGHEST PART ACTUALLY
WAS WHEN I LEFT MY MY MOM.

00:20:11.877 --> 00:20:17.966
AND I KISS HER, NOT KNOWING
IF I'M GONNA SEE HER AGAIN.

00:20:18.050 --> 00:20:23.305
SO AT THE MOMENT YOU
GET INTO THE BOAT

00:20:23.388 --> 00:20:27.017
AND...AND GO.

00:20:28.727 --> 00:20:31.146
Narrator:
IN THE FALL OF 1966,

00:20:31.230 --> 00:20:34.816
MANUEL CAPO AND HIS TWO ELDEST
SONS, CARLOS AND LUIS,

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.652
SHOVED OFF THE SOUTHERN COAST
OF CUBA

00:20:36.735 --> 00:20:38.654
UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT...

00:20:38.737 --> 00:20:42.491
RISKING THEIR LIVES
TO SAVE THEIR FUTURE.

00:20:44.076 --> 00:20:46.787
AFTER 43 HOURS AT SEA,

00:20:46.870 --> 00:20:50.082
THEY ARRIVED ON THE BEACHES
OF COZUMEL, MEXICO.

00:20:51.875 --> 00:20:56.004
ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER,
THEY MADE THEIR WAY NORTH

00:20:56.088 --> 00:21:01.343
TO THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
NEAR BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.

00:21:01.426 --> 00:21:03.470
PEOPLE TOLD US
THAT THERE WAS A FENCE

00:21:03.553 --> 00:21:06.056
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND MEXICO.

00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:09.726
AND THAT FENCE HAVE A MILE TO
THE LEFT, A MILE TO THE RIGHT.

00:21:09.810 --> 00:21:13.313
AFTER THAT MILE IS NO FENCE.

00:21:13.397 --> 00:21:18.360
FORGET ABOUT IT,
THAT FENCE NEVER FINISH.

00:21:18.443 --> 00:21:20.404
Narrator: THEY JUMPED
THE 8-FOOT FENCE

00:21:20.487 --> 00:21:22.823
INTO THE UNITED STATES.

00:21:22.906 --> 00:21:26.368
BOUND FOR MIAMI,
THEY WERE PULLED OFF A BUS,

00:21:26.451 --> 00:21:29.746
DETAINED AND INTERROGATED
BY THE U.S. BORDER PATROL

00:21:29.830 --> 00:21:32.040
FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

00:21:32.124 --> 00:21:39.589
IT WAS TOUGH.
IS A TOUGH INTERROGATION.

00:21:39.673 --> 00:21:46.138
ONE-BY-ONE SCREAMING,
MY FATHER WAS CRYING.

00:21:46.221 --> 00:21:49.641
AT THAT TIME, WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH US.

00:21:50.976 --> 00:21:57.899
FINALLY, THIS OFFICER SAY, "I'M
SORRY I TREAT YOU THAT THIS WAY,

00:21:57.983 --> 00:21:59.609
"BUT THAT'S PART OF MY JOB.

00:21:59.693 --> 00:22:01.695
"I HAVE TO BE SURE
YOU ARE CUBANS

00:22:01.778 --> 00:22:05.657
"AND YOU ARE
THE LEGITIMATE REFUGEE.

00:22:05.741 --> 00:22:10.620
WELCOME TO UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA."

00:22:10.704 --> 00:22:12.122
[CHEERING]

00:22:12.205 --> 00:22:14.916
Narrator: 7 YEARS EARLIER
IN 1959,

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.919
FIDEL CASTRO AND HIS
BAND OF REVOLUTIONARIES

00:22:18.003 --> 00:22:21.423
MARCHED INTO HAVANA
FOLLOWING AN ARMED REVOLT

00:22:21.506 --> 00:22:22.674
THAT ENDED IN THE OVERTHROW

00:22:22.758 --> 00:22:26.720
OF MILITARY DICTATOR
FULGENCIO BATISTA.

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:32.184
SUPPORT FOR THE REVOLUTION
WAS OVERWHELMING,

00:22:32.267 --> 00:22:36.021
FROM THE POOREST TO THE
PROFESSIONAL AND MIDDLE CLASSES.

00:22:38.732 --> 00:22:42.069
BUT NOT ALL CUBANS
BACKED FIDEL CASTRO.

00:22:42.152 --> 00:22:44.446
FIRST TO LEAVE WERE
THE CLOSE ASSOCIATES

00:22:44.529 --> 00:22:50.660
OF THE OUSTED DICTATOR AND
MEMBERS OF CUBA'S UPPER CLASS.

00:22:50.744 --> 00:22:53.622
Man: ANYBODY WHO LEAVES
HIS OR HER COUNTRY,

00:22:53.705 --> 00:22:58.126
THE DAY HE OR SHE LEFT IS REALLY
EMBEDDED IN HIS MEMORY.

00:22:58.210 --> 00:23:00.170
I LEFT 51 1/2 YEARS AGO.

00:23:00.253 --> 00:23:02.881
AND I'VE REPLAYED THAT DAY
OVER IN MY MEMORY

00:23:02.964 --> 00:23:06.009
MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES,
ALMOST EVERY DAY.

00:23:09.221 --> 00:23:12.974
IT WAS THE 24th OF OCTOBER
OF 1960,

00:23:13.058 --> 00:23:17.938
AND WE CAME OVER ON A FERRY
CALLED THE "CITY OF HAVANA."

00:23:18.021 --> 00:23:19.606
AND THAT DAY I WAS 11 YEARS OLD,

00:23:19.689 --> 00:23:21.983
AND I COULD SENSE THAT
SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT

00:23:22.067 --> 00:23:23.693
FROM HEARING,
OVERHEARING CONVERSATIONS

00:23:23.777 --> 00:23:25.362
AMONG THE GROWN-UPS.

00:23:28.115 --> 00:23:30.992
Narrator: THE PEREZ FIRMAT
FAMILY HAD TAKEN THIS FERRY TRIP

00:23:31.076 --> 00:23:33.578
TO MIAMI DOZENS OF TIMES BEFORE

00:23:33.662 --> 00:23:37.624
TO STOCK THEIR PROSPEROUS
WHOLESALE STORE IN HAVANA.

00:23:37.707 --> 00:23:40.627
BUT CASTRO HAD SEIZED
THEIR PROPERTY,

00:23:40.710 --> 00:23:43.588
AND THE FAMILY FLED WITH
WHATEVER THEY COULD CARRY.

00:23:46.466 --> 00:23:48.510
OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS,

00:23:48.593 --> 00:23:52.889
MORE THAN 200,000 CUBANS
WOULD FLEE TO MIAMI.

00:23:52.973 --> 00:23:56.101
AT FIRST, THEY WERE WELCOME...

00:23:56.184 --> 00:23:59.521
Man: IT WAS EASY FOR THE U.S.
TO BE WELCOMING

00:23:59.604 --> 00:24:01.606
OF CUBANS WHO WERE LEAVING
IN THE 1960s.

00:24:01.690 --> 00:24:04.151
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WERE
COMING FROM MIDDLE CLASSES,

00:24:04.234 --> 00:24:05.277
UPPER MIDDLE CLASSES, THE ELITE.

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.403
THEY WERE WHITE.

00:24:06.486 --> 00:24:08.989
I MEAN THESE WERE
GREAT IMMIGRANTS

00:24:09.072 --> 00:24:13.368
FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF, YOU
KNOW, PREJUDICES IN THE U.S.

00:24:13.451 --> 00:24:15.203
Narrator:
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR,

00:24:15.287 --> 00:24:18.582
CUBANS WERE REFUGEES
FROM A COMMUNIST REGIME

00:24:18.665 --> 00:24:23.003
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THEY WEREN'T STAYING FOR LONG.

00:24:23.086 --> 00:24:24.713
Gustavo Perez Firmat: FROM
THE CUBAN EXILE POINT OF VIEW,

00:24:24.796 --> 00:24:27.048
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
WILL NOT ALLOW

00:24:27.132 --> 00:24:30.510
A COMMUNIST REGIME
90 MILES OFF THE SHORES.

00:24:30.594 --> 00:24:33.221
NOW, THEY HAD GOOD REASON TO
THINK THAT BECAUSE UNITED STATES

00:24:33.305 --> 00:24:36.266
HAD INTERVENED IN CUBAN AFFAIRS,
YOU KNOW,

00:24:36.349 --> 00:24:37.851
ANY NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE,

00:24:37.934 --> 00:24:39.227
IT'S NOT AS IF UNITED STATES
HAVE TAKEN

00:24:39.311 --> 00:24:41.855
A HANDS-OFF POLICY TOWARD CUBA.

00:24:41.938 --> 00:24:44.149
Narrator:
THE PEREZ FIRMAT FAMILY

00:24:44.232 --> 00:24:46.318
HAD COME TO MIAMI TO WAIT...

00:24:46.401 --> 00:24:48.528
FOR THE FALL OF FIDEL CASTRO

00:24:48.612 --> 00:24:52.699
AND FOR LIFE IN CUBA
TO RETURN TO NORMAL.

00:24:54.826 --> 00:24:57.871
DAYS OF WAITING
GREW INTO MONTHS.

00:24:57.954 --> 00:24:59.789
THEY LEFT THEIR HOTEL
AND MOVED INTO A HOUSE

00:24:59.873 --> 00:25:03.543
IN WHAT WOULD SOON BECOME KNOWN
AS LITTLE HAVANA.

00:25:03.627 --> 00:25:06.546
GUSTAVO, SR. GOT INTO
THE USED CAR BUSINESS,

00:25:06.630 --> 00:25:09.758
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THEIR MOTHER GOT A JOB

00:25:09.841 --> 00:25:12.344
AS A SECRETARY
AT HER CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.

00:25:12.427 --> 00:25:14.262
Perez Firmat:
IT WAS SORT OF EXHILARATING

00:25:14.346 --> 00:25:16.765
TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO SCHOOL
BY MYSELF.

00:25:16.848 --> 00:25:18.600
TO WALK TO THE BOY'S CLUB
IN CUBA,

00:25:18.683 --> 00:25:21.061
I BASICALLY LIVED
WITHIN THE CONFINES OF MY HOUSE

00:25:21.144 --> 00:25:23.313
AND MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE
WHICH WAS NEXT DOOR.

00:25:23.396 --> 00:25:25.649
AND I WASN'T ALLOWED TO PLAY
BY MYSELF ON THE STREETS,

00:25:25.732 --> 00:25:26.900
STUFF LIKE THAT.

00:25:26.983 --> 00:25:29.361
IN MIAMI, MY MOTHER WAS TOO BUSY
JUST, YOU KNOW,

00:25:29.444 --> 00:25:30.820
FINDING A JOB, ET CETERA,

00:25:30.904 --> 00:25:33.281
SO SHE COULDN'T LOOK AFTER US
IN THE SAME WAY.

00:25:33.365 --> 00:25:35.617
I ROAMED AROUND,
AND IT WAS GREAT.

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:38.370
I FELT FREE.

00:25:38.453 --> 00:25:40.705
Narrator: UNTIL THEY COULD
GET THEIR BEARINGS,

00:25:40.789 --> 00:25:43.959
THE FAMILY RELIED
ON U.S. GOVERNMENT RELIEF.

00:25:45.710 --> 00:25:50.006
SPAM WAS BREAKFAST,
LUNCH, AND DINNER.

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:54.094
AT THE PEREZ FIRMAT TABLE,

00:25:54.177 --> 00:25:59.641
THE CONVERSATION INEVITABLY
TURNED TO THE TOPIC OF CUBA.

00:25:59.724 --> 00:26:03.144
THERE WAS THIS CONSTANT
SORT OF BUZZ IN THE AIR,

00:26:03.228 --> 00:26:07.565
BECAUSE WE--WE WERE SURE THAT WE
WERE GOING BACK AT ANY MOMENT.

00:26:07.649 --> 00:26:09.150
AND EVERY DAY IN MY HOUSE,

00:26:09.234 --> 00:26:12.153
THE RADIO WAS TUNED TO THE CUBAN
RADIO STATION CALLED LA RELOJ,

00:26:12.237 --> 00:26:15.156
WHICH HAD THE NEWS
BY THE MINUTE.

00:26:17.575 --> 00:26:21.329
Narrator: THE BUZZ WAS THAT
EXILED FATHERS, UNCLES, AND SONS

00:26:21.413 --> 00:26:25.208
HAD GONE OFF TO TRAIN IN
THE JUNGLES OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

00:26:26.751 --> 00:26:31.423
AN INVASION WAS IN THE MAKING
AND WOULD HAPPEN ANY DAY NOW.

00:26:33.425 --> 00:26:37.053
ON APRIL 17, 1961,

00:26:37.137 --> 00:26:41.308
1,400 U.S.-TRAINED CUBAN EXILES
LANDED IN CUBA.

00:26:43.268 --> 00:26:45.145
I WOKE UP THAT MORNING APRIL 17

00:26:45.228 --> 00:26:47.731
AND THERE WAS MY FATHER
AND MY UNCLE IN THE FLORIDA ROOM

00:26:47.814 --> 00:26:50.108
WHERE THE 3
OF US BROTHERS SLEPT,

00:26:50.191 --> 00:26:52.902
TUNING IN TO
SHORTWAVE RADIO TRANSMISSIONS,

00:26:52.986 --> 00:26:57.907
AND THEY WERE CERTAIN THAT
THE INVASION WOULD SUCCEED.

00:26:57.991 --> 00:27:01.119
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS,

00:27:01.202 --> 00:27:06.082
THE LIVES OF CUBANS IN MIAMI
HUNG IN THE BALANCE.

00:27:10.628 --> 00:27:14.090
HUNDREDS CROWDED IN CHURCHES
OR MET IN PARKS

00:27:14.174 --> 00:27:16.092
FOR CANDLELIGHT PRAYER VIGILS.

00:27:25.393 --> 00:27:27.020
WITHIN 72 HOURS,

00:27:27.103 --> 00:27:31.524
CASTRO'S FORCES EASILY DEFEATED
THE EXILE INVASION.

00:27:36.863 --> 00:27:38.907
THE FAILURE OF THE BAY OF PIGS

00:27:38.990 --> 00:27:42.827
WAS A DEVASTATING BLOW
TO CUBANS' HOPES OF RETURN.

00:27:45.413 --> 00:27:47.791
IN MIAMI, IT WASN'T JUST CUBANS

00:27:47.874 --> 00:27:50.919
WHO WERE UNHAPPY
ABOUT THEIR PROLONGED STAY.

00:27:51.002 --> 00:27:53.380
NON-CUBAN LOCALS
AIRED THEIR GRIEVANCES

00:27:53.463 --> 00:27:56.174
IN A MIAMI TELEVISION REPORT.

00:27:59.302 --> 00:28:01.388
Newsreel narrator:
AMERICAN ANTAGONISM IS GROWING

00:28:01.471 --> 00:28:04.057
NOT BECAUSE THE REFUGEES
ARE CUBAN OR LOOK CUBAN,

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.683
BUT BECAUSE
THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM.

00:28:05.767 --> 00:28:07.227
IF MIAMIANS ARE AGITATED,

00:28:07.310 --> 00:28:08.686
IT'S BECAUSE
THEY'RE ASKED TO ACCEPT

00:28:08.770 --> 00:28:11.940
LATE-NIGHT SIDEWALK DISCUSSIONS
AND LOUD-PLAYING RADIO...

00:28:12.023 --> 00:28:15.360
Woman: MANY OF THE
LOCAL RESIDENTS FEAR

00:28:15.443 --> 00:28:18.113
THAT THEY SIMPLY CAN'T
ACCOMMODATE THESE NEW ARRIVALS

00:28:18.196 --> 00:28:20.532
WHO ARE COMING IN
IN SUCH LARGE NUMBERS

00:28:20.615 --> 00:28:22.826
AND AT SUCH A RAPID CLIP.

00:28:22.909 --> 00:28:25.036
Newsreel narrator: WHICH
MIAMIANS FEAR WILL CREATE SLUMS

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:27.414
NOT UNLIKE NEW YORK'S
PUERTO RICAN DISTRICT.

00:28:27.497 --> 00:28:29.541
Maria Cristina Garcia:
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

00:28:29.624 --> 00:28:31.209
CAN'T ACCOMMODATE
THEIR CHILDREN.

00:28:31.292 --> 00:28:32.669
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH JOBS.

00:28:32.752 --> 00:28:34.504
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND OUR SERVICES

00:28:34.587 --> 00:28:36.881
ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT,

00:28:36.965 --> 00:28:40.385
AND SO, THERE IS A LOT OF
ANXIETY, A LOT OF RESENTMENT,

00:28:40.468 --> 00:28:41.719
FEAR.

00:28:42.971 --> 00:28:45.140
Narrator: IN THE WAKE
OF THE BAY OF PIGS,

00:28:45.223 --> 00:28:48.977
CUBANS SCRAMBLED TO JOIN
THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN EXILE.

00:28:49.060 --> 00:28:52.021
AFTER THE BAY OF PIGS,
EVERYTHING GOES UP FOR GRABS.

00:28:52.105 --> 00:28:54.357
THE EMBASSY IS CLOSED
AT THAT POINT,

00:28:54.441 --> 00:28:56.526
IT'S VERY HARD TO GET A VISA
TO GET OUT,

00:28:56.609 --> 00:28:59.696
REPRESSION IN CUBA
IS INCREASING.

00:29:00.947 --> 00:29:03.408
Narrator:
MARIA DE LOS ANGELES TORRES--

00:29:03.491 --> 00:29:05.285
NENA, AS SHE WAS CALLED--

00:29:05.368 --> 00:29:09.164
WAS GROWING UP IN A FAMILY
THAT SUPPORTED THE REVOLUTION

00:29:09.247 --> 00:29:14.002
UNTIL A CLOSE FRIEND WAS
ARRESTED AND EXECUTED.

00:29:14.085 --> 00:29:16.045
HE HAD JUST TURNED 17.

00:29:16.129 --> 00:29:18.923
AND SO I THINK THAT,
IN MY FAMILY,

00:29:19.007 --> 00:29:20.592
REALLY TURNED MY FAMILY AROUND

00:29:20.675 --> 00:29:24.262
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN
WE WENT FROM CELEBRATING FIDEL

00:29:24.345 --> 00:29:25.722
TO REALLY BEING SCARED.

00:29:25.805 --> 00:29:29.684
Narrator: THEN A RUMOR
BEGAN TO CIRCULATE;

00:29:29.767 --> 00:29:34.355
A NEW LAW WOULD STRIP PARENTS
OF THEIR RIGHTS;

00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:38.610
CASTRO WOULD DECIDE WHERE AND
WHAT THEIR CHILDREN WOULD LEARN,

00:29:38.693 --> 00:29:41.988
POSSIBLY EVEN
IN THE SOVIET UNION.

00:29:42.071 --> 00:29:43.907
Nena Torres:
CLEARLY THIS WAS A PATTERN

00:29:43.990 --> 00:29:47.118
OF PROPAGANDA
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

00:29:47.202 --> 00:29:50.788
BUT AS ALL PROPAGANDA,
THAT WHICH IS EFFECTIVE,

00:29:50.872 --> 00:29:52.999
ALWAYS CONTAINS
A KERNEL OF TRUTH.

00:29:53.082 --> 00:29:56.127
AND AS THE GOVERNMENT
SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOLS,

00:29:56.211 --> 00:29:58.254
BEGAN THE LITERACY PROGRAM

00:29:58.338 --> 00:30:00.048
WHERE THEY
ENCOURAGED ADOLESCENTS

00:30:00.131 --> 00:30:02.550
TO TEACH PEASANTS
HOW TO READ AND WRITE.

00:30:02.634 --> 00:30:06.930
ALL THAT TENDED TO GIVE
SOME CREDENCE TO THAT.

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:11.100
Narrator:
FEARFUL OF LOSING THEIR CHILD,

00:30:11.184 --> 00:30:15.063
NENA'S PARENTS MADE
AN AGONIZING DECISION.

00:30:15.146 --> 00:30:18.483
A CLANDESTINE NETWORK INVOLVING
CUBANS AND AMERICANS,

00:30:18.566 --> 00:30:20.944
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,
AND THE CIA,

00:30:21.027 --> 00:30:23.238
PLANNED TO TRANSPORT
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN

00:30:23.321 --> 00:30:25.490
TO THE UNITED STATES.

00:30:25.573 --> 00:30:28.826
NENA WOULD BE ONE OF THEM.

00:30:28.910 --> 00:30:31.996
Nena Torres: I REMEMBER WE LEFT
VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:35.750
AND AGAIN THERE WAS A LOT
OF SILENCE AROUND THE TRIP,

00:30:35.833 --> 00:30:37.126
YOU KNOW.

00:30:37.210 --> 00:30:38.378
WE HAD NEIGHBORS

00:30:38.461 --> 00:30:41.756
THAT I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL
THAT I WAS LEAVING.

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.341
THE LAST THING
MY MOTHER TOLD ME,

00:30:43.424 --> 00:30:46.970
"TAKE A BATH BECAUSE AMERICANS
DON'T BATHE EVERY DAY."

00:30:47.053 --> 00:30:53.142
AND I DO REMEMBER AT SOME POINT
GOING OUT TO THE PLANE

00:30:53.226 --> 00:30:57.730
AND THE GUARDS STOPPING ME,
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WOULD PUT,

00:30:57.814 --> 00:31:01.776
YOU KNOW, FAMILY HEIRLOOMS
INSIDE THE DOLLS,

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:04.404
AND SO THE GUARD TRIED TO TAKE
THE DOLL AWAY

00:31:04.487 --> 00:31:07.156
AND I GOT VERY ANGRY,
AND SO I TOOK IT BACK, SO...

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:11.911
Narrator: BETWEEN DECEMBER 1960
AND OCTOBER 1962,

00:31:11.995 --> 00:31:15.373
IN WHAT BECAME KNOWN
AS OPERATION PETER PAN,

00:31:15.456 --> 00:31:19.460
14,000 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
WERE TRANSPORTED TO MIAMI

00:31:19.544 --> 00:31:23.214
UNTIL THEY COULD BE REUNITED
WITH THEIR PARENTS.

00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:27.427
WHILE HALF WENT TO LIVE
WITH RELATIVES AND FRIENDS,

00:31:27.510 --> 00:31:30.555
THE REST CAME TO A REFUGEE CAMP
FOR CHILDREN

00:31:30.638 --> 00:31:32.515
UNDER THE CARE OF
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:37.103
TO WAIT FOR THEIR PARENTS
OR A FOSTER HOME.

00:31:37.186 --> 00:31:41.649
NENA WOULD BE REUNITED
WITH HER PARENTS WITHIN MONTHS.

00:31:41.733 --> 00:31:43.192
Torres:
I MEAN, IT SEEMED LONG

00:31:43.276 --> 00:31:47.322
BECAUSE 4 MONTHS TO A KID
IS A LONG TIME.

00:31:47.405 --> 00:31:50.533
THERE ARE FRIENDS I HAVE WHO
NEVER SAW THEIR PARENTS AGAIN.

00:31:50.617 --> 00:31:53.703
SO IN THAT SENSE, WE WERE LUCKY.

00:31:56.914 --> 00:32:00.251
Narrator: IN 1962
U.S. RECONNAISSANCE PLANES

00:32:00.335 --> 00:32:03.338
DISCOVERED SOVIET MISSILES
IN CUBA,

00:32:03.421 --> 00:32:06.299
TRAVEL TO AND FROM CUBA CEASED,

00:32:06.382 --> 00:32:10.637
AND THOUSANDS OF PETER PAN
CHILDREN WERE STRANDED.

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.764
Torres: YOU HAVE
8,000 CHILDREN HERE

00:32:12.847 --> 00:32:15.224
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REUNITED
WITH THEIR PARENTS.

00:32:15.308 --> 00:32:18.394
THEY CAN'T GO BACK BECAUSE CUBA
WILL NOT LET THEM GO BACK

00:32:18.478 --> 00:32:22.023
AND THE UNITED STATES
DOESN'T LET THEIR PARENTS IN.

00:32:23.358 --> 00:32:25.151
Narrator:
THE WORLD HAD BEEN BROUGHT

00:32:25.234 --> 00:32:27.445
TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR.

00:32:27.528 --> 00:32:29.864
THE SOVIETS REMOVED
THE MISSILES,

00:32:29.947 --> 00:32:34.702
AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY AGREED
TO NEVER INVADE CUBA AGAIN.

00:32:34.786 --> 00:32:37.121
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:32:37.205 --> 00:32:39.624
Narrator:
CASTRO WAS ENTRENCHED,

00:32:39.707 --> 00:32:43.419
AND NO ONE IN MIAMI
WAS GOING HOME JUST YET.

00:32:53.471 --> 00:32:56.808
SAN JUAN HILL IN NEW YORK CITY'S
WEST MANHATTAN,

00:32:56.891 --> 00:32:59.435
WHERE SCENES FROM THE SEMINAL
MOVIE "WEST SIDE STORY"

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:05.066
WERE FILMED, WAS A TENEMENT SLUM
UNTIL IT WAS TORN DOWN.

00:33:06.651 --> 00:33:10.738
Gonzalez: THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT
THE RAZING OF SOME TENEMENTS

00:33:10.822 --> 00:33:13.574
THAT WERE REALLY SUBSTANDARD
HOUSING TO BEGIN WITH

00:33:13.658 --> 00:33:17.578
WAS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY
TO PROGRESS.

00:33:17.662 --> 00:33:20.540
MANY OF THEM WERE
A HELLHOLE OF AN EXPERIENCE

00:33:20.623 --> 00:33:21.916
IN TERMS OF DAILY LIFE.

00:33:21.999 --> 00:33:27.463
THE RAT INFESTATION AND THE
ROACH INFESTATION WAS ASTOUNDING

00:33:27.547 --> 00:33:29.132
AND THE INABILITY OF PEOPLE

00:33:29.215 --> 00:33:31.592
TO GET LANDLORDS TO REPAIR
THEIR BUILDINGS PROPERLY,

00:33:31.676 --> 00:33:35.096
THAT THEY WERE CHARGING RENTS
FOR, WAS A HUGE PROBLEM.

00:33:38.391 --> 00:33:40.810
Narrator:
IN THE SPAN OF 15 YEARS,

00:33:40.893 --> 00:33:43.271
HUNDREDS OF CITY BLOCKS
WERE RAZED...

00:33:43.354 --> 00:33:46.607
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES DISPLACED.

00:33:46.691 --> 00:33:48.401
IN PLACE OF SAN JUAN HILL,

00:33:48.484 --> 00:33:50.987
THE CITY BUILT THE
PERFORMING ARTS MECCA--

00:33:51.070 --> 00:33:52.447
LINCOLN CENTER--

00:33:52.530 --> 00:33:55.825
AND OVER 7,000 PUERTO RICAN
AND AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES

00:33:55.908 --> 00:33:58.369
WERE LEFT WITH NOWHERE TO GO.

00:33:58.453 --> 00:34:02.665
ITS CRITICS DUBBED THE POLICY,
"SPIC REMOVAL."

00:34:02.749 --> 00:34:06.294
Sanchez Korrol: POLITICIANS PAY
ATTENTION TO PEOPLE WHO VOTE,

00:34:06.377 --> 00:34:08.838
AND IF THERE ARE NOT
BIG VOTING BLOCKS

00:34:08.921 --> 00:34:11.507
COMING OUT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES,

00:34:11.591 --> 00:34:14.302
THEN THEY ARE NOT GOING
TO BE LISTENED TO.

00:34:14.385 --> 00:34:18.473
AS URBAN RENEWAL IS BEING
PLANNED FOR THOSE AREAS,

00:34:18.556 --> 00:34:21.058
I DON'T THINK THAT
THEIR POLITICAL POWER

00:34:21.142 --> 00:34:25.396
IS STRONG ENOUGH TO AVOID IT.

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:29.358
Narrator: FOR THE 600,000 PUERTO
RICANS LIVING IN THE CITY,

00:34:29.442 --> 00:34:33.029
THE POLITICAL POWER THAT COULD
IMPROVE EVERYDAY LIFE

00:34:33.112 --> 00:34:35.531
WAS STILL FAR FROM REACH.

00:34:35.615 --> 00:34:38.201
IN NEW YORK, LIKE MOST THINGS,

00:34:38.284 --> 00:34:41.913
POLITICS CAME DOWN
ALONG ETHNIC LINES.

00:34:41.996 --> 00:34:46.209
Gonzalez: IF THE MAIN JOBS WERE
THE MAYOR, THE CITY CONTROLLER,

00:34:46.292 --> 00:34:48.044
AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE CITY COUNCIL,

00:34:48.127 --> 00:34:49.545
WHICH THEY USUALLY WERE,

00:34:49.629 --> 00:34:51.798
ONE HAD TO BE JEWISH,
ONE HAD TO BE ITALIAN,

00:34:51.881 --> 00:34:53.257
AND ONE HAD TO BE IRISH.

00:34:53.341 --> 00:34:57.804
PUERTO RICANS
WERE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

00:34:57.887 --> 00:35:00.139
Narrator: FOR ONE YOUNG
PUERTO RICAN LAWYER,

00:35:00.223 --> 00:35:04.393
SIDELINING HIS COMMUNITY
WAS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE.

00:35:04.477 --> 00:35:08.773
Man: WE ARE NOT HERE
TO THREATEN OR TO BEG.

00:35:08.856 --> 00:35:11.734
WE ARE HERE TO PARTICIPATE,

00:35:11.818 --> 00:35:14.070
AND THE POWER THAT WE SEEK

00:35:14.153 --> 00:35:17.365
IS ESSENTIALLY
THE POWER TO PERSUADE

00:35:17.448 --> 00:35:20.785
AND THE POWER TO ELECT
AND TO BE ELECTED.

00:35:20.868 --> 00:35:23.204
[APPLAUSE]

00:35:24.705 --> 00:35:27.792
Narrator: IN 1960,
HERMAN BADILLO WAS TAPPED

00:35:27.875 --> 00:35:30.086
BY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
JOHN F. KENNEDY

00:35:30.169 --> 00:35:34.006
TO RUN HIS CAMPAIGN
FOR LATINO VOTERS IN NEW YORK.

00:35:37.552 --> 00:35:41.347
Gonzalez: KENNEDY INSPIRED
LATINOS THROUGHOUT THE NATION,

00:35:41.430 --> 00:35:47.645
ALL OF THE LATINO POLITICIANS
OF OUR ERA, THE PIONEERS,

00:35:47.728 --> 00:35:52.400
ALL STARTED OUT OF
THE VIVA KENNEDY CLUBS,

00:35:52.483 --> 00:35:54.443
BADILLO IN NEW YORK

00:35:54.527 --> 00:35:58.239
WAS ABLE TO SKILLFULLY RIDE
THE WAVE THAT WAS OCCURRING THEN

00:35:58.322 --> 00:35:59.490
AND SAW THE IMPORTANCE

00:35:59.574 --> 00:36:02.159
OF GETTING PUERTO RICANS
REGISTERED TO VOTE.

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:08.416
Narrator: HERMAN BADILLO
ARRIVED IN NEW YORK IN 1941,

00:36:08.499 --> 00:36:11.919
AN ORPHAN SENT FROM PUERTO RICO
TO LIVE WITH CLOSE RELATIVES

00:36:12.003 --> 00:36:16.549
AFTER BOTH OF HIS PARENTS
DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS.

00:36:16.632 --> 00:36:20.553
AS A STUDENT AT HAAREN HIGH, HE
WROTE FOR THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER,

00:36:20.636 --> 00:36:24.098
WHERE A FELLOW STUDENT WONDERED
WHERE HE SPENT THE SCHOOL DAY.

00:36:24.181 --> 00:36:25.433
Man: HE SAID "WELL,

00:36:25.516 --> 00:36:27.935
"HOW COME WE DON'T SEE YOU
ANYWHERE?

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:30.897
"YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE VERY SMART
BECAUSE YOU ARE A GOOD WRITER

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:35.484
EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A HEAVY
ACCENT, BUT THEN YOU DISAPPEAR."

00:36:35.568 --> 00:36:39.822
I SAID "NO, I DON'T DISAPPEAR,
I GO TO MY CLASSES."

00:36:39.906 --> 00:36:41.073
HE SAID "WHAT ARE THEY?"

00:36:41.157 --> 00:36:43.451
I SAID "AIRPLANE MECHANICS."

00:36:43.534 --> 00:36:46.704
HE SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING
IN AIRPLANE MECHANICS?

00:36:46.787 --> 00:36:48.998
THAT'S FOR BLACKS
AND PUERTO RICANS."

00:36:49.081 --> 00:36:51.000
Narrator:
DEFYING THE SCHOOL'S PRACTICE

00:36:51.083 --> 00:36:52.835
OF RACE-BASED TRACKING,

00:36:52.919 --> 00:36:54.962
HERMAN SWITCHED
TO A COLLEGE TRACK

00:36:55.046 --> 00:36:57.840
AND GRADUATED FROM CITY COLLEGE
AND BROOKLYN LAW

00:36:57.924 --> 00:36:59.842
WITH TOP HONORS.

00:36:59.926 --> 00:37:04.180
NOW HE SET HIS SIGHTS ON
BREAKING UP THE EXCLUSIVE CLUB

00:37:04.263 --> 00:37:07.058
OF NEW YORK CITY POLITICS.

00:37:07.141 --> 00:37:08.976
Herman Badillo:
THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION,

00:37:09.060 --> 00:37:11.854
THEY WERE WORRIED THAT
THEY'D BE THROWN OUT OF OFFICE.

00:37:11.938 --> 00:37:13.981
SO, UH, THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING.

00:37:14.065 --> 00:37:16.317
IN FACT,
THEY DISCOURAGED PUERTO RICANS

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:19.320
FROM BEING INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

00:37:19.403 --> 00:37:23.491
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IN THOSE
DAYS THERE WAS A LITERACY TEST

00:37:23.574 --> 00:37:28.287
WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT
FOR PUERTO RICANS TO REGISTER

00:37:28.371 --> 00:37:30.331
AND TO VOTE.

00:37:30.414 --> 00:37:33.834
Sanchez Korrol: MY MOTHER WAS
TERRIFIED TO REGISTER TO VOTE

00:37:33.918 --> 00:37:35.294
BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE

00:37:35.378 --> 00:37:39.715
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO READ
THE ENGLISH PARAGRAPH

00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:41.550
THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO READ.

00:37:41.634 --> 00:37:44.220
AND I REMEMBER TAKING HER
AND GOING WITH HER

00:37:44.303 --> 00:37:45.888
AND TELLING HER, "YEAH.
YOU CAN READ IT.

00:37:45.972 --> 00:37:47.223
"YOU CAN READ IT, MA,
YOU CAN READ IT.

00:37:47.306 --> 00:37:48.349
"IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

00:37:48.432 --> 00:37:50.685
YOU CAN READ IT."
AND SHE DID.

00:37:50.768 --> 00:37:52.353
AND STILL I REMEMBER
HER HAND SHAKING

00:37:52.436 --> 00:37:56.399
AS SHE SIGNED HER NAME
TO BE PUT ON THE VOTING RECORDS.

00:37:57.900 --> 00:38:01.028
Narrator: YET, FOR LOCAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY BOSSES

00:38:01.112 --> 00:38:05.533
LITERACY TESTS WEREN'T ENOUGH TO
KEEP PUERTO RICANS FROM VOTING.

00:38:05.616 --> 00:38:08.411
AT ONE POINT,
I WENT TO A POLLING PLACE,

00:38:08.494 --> 00:38:10.204
AND THE GUY SAYS TO ME,

00:38:10.288 --> 00:38:13.374
"WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT GUY BADILLO.

00:38:13.457 --> 00:38:17.211
SEE, HE'S BEEN BRINGING ALL THIS
GARBAGE TO REGISTER AND VOTE."

00:38:17.294 --> 00:38:20.965
SO I SAID,
"WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?"

00:38:21.048 --> 00:38:23.592
HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO CLOSE
THE POLLING PLACE

00:38:23.676 --> 00:38:28.723
AT 9:00 IN THE EVENING INSTEAD
OF KEEPING IT OPEN TILL 10:00."

00:38:28.806 --> 00:38:30.599
SO I SAID "GOOD IDEA."

00:38:30.683 --> 00:38:33.060
Narrator:
THE YOUNG LAWYER STAYED

00:38:33.144 --> 00:38:35.479
AND COLLECTED THE NAMES
OF 14 PUERTO RICANS

00:38:35.563 --> 00:38:39.108
WHO HAD COME ON TIME
BUT COULD NOT REGISTER.

00:38:39.191 --> 00:38:40.693
ON THEIR BEHALF,

00:38:40.776 --> 00:38:45.406
BADILLO SUED THE NEW YORK BOARD
OF ELECTIONS FOR DISCRIMINATION.

00:38:45.489 --> 00:38:47.491
I WON THE COURT VICTORY,

00:38:47.575 --> 00:38:50.494
WE HAD A HUGE INCREASE
IN REGISTRATION

00:38:50.578 --> 00:38:52.246
AND A HUGE TURNOUT,

00:38:52.329 --> 00:38:56.208
AND THAT CERTAINLY HELPED
KENNEDY TO BE ELECTED.

00:38:57.668 --> 00:39:00.671
Narrator: PUERTO RICANS
HAD VOTED IN RECORD NUMBERS,

00:39:00.755 --> 00:39:02.798
AND WOULD SOON SEE
ONE OF THEIR OWN

00:39:02.882 --> 00:39:06.177
BREAK THROUGH THE BARRIERS OF
NEW YORK CITY POLITICS.

00:39:06.260 --> 00:39:08.387
[BADILLO SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:39:10.056 --> 00:39:11.599
Sanchez Korrol:
WHEN HERMAN BADILLO

00:39:11.682 --> 00:39:13.142
BECAME BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT,

00:39:13.225 --> 00:39:16.645
I AM ALMOST SURE THAT
EVERYONE IN NEW YORK KNEW

00:39:16.729 --> 00:39:20.816
THAT A PUERTO RICAN HAD BECOME
BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT.

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:22.610
HUGE.

00:39:22.693 --> 00:39:24.445
IT WAS HUGE.

00:39:24.528 --> 00:39:28.032
Narrator: HERMAN BADILLO
WENT ON TO WASHINGTON

00:39:28.115 --> 00:39:31.202
AS THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN
U.S. CONGRESSMAN.

00:39:31.285 --> 00:39:34.830
THERE HE HELPED CREATE AND PASS
LANDMARK LEGISLATION

00:39:34.914 --> 00:39:37.333
TO SUPPORT BILINGUAL EDUCATION

00:39:37.416 --> 00:39:41.295
AND GUARANTEE VOTING RIGHTS
FOR ALL AMERICANS.

00:39:53.641 --> 00:39:55.434
BY 1966,

00:39:55.518 --> 00:39:59.105
WHEN MANUEL CAPO AND HIS TWO
TEENAGE SONS, LUIS AND CARLOS,

00:39:59.188 --> 00:40:01.315
FINALLY REACHED MIAMI FROM CUBA,

00:40:01.398 --> 00:40:06.570
THEY WERE GREETED BY THE SIGHTS,
SOUNDS, AND PEOPLE FROM HOME.

00:40:06.654 --> 00:40:09.365
WE WANT TO WORK;
WE WANT TO MAKE SOME MONEY

00:40:09.448 --> 00:40:11.367
BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE FAMILY BEHIND

00:40:11.450 --> 00:40:13.661
AND ALL THE TIME

00:40:13.744 --> 00:40:17.873
MY FATHER WAS THINKING ABOUT
THIS IS A GREAT COUNTRY,

00:40:17.957 --> 00:40:21.877
THIS IS A COUNTRY
OF OPPORTUNITY.

00:40:21.961 --> 00:40:25.339
Narrator: IN LESS THAN A WEEK,
THEY WERE EARNING MINIMUM WAGE,

00:40:25.422 --> 00:40:31.846
$1.25 AN HOUR, 50-60 HOURS A
WEEK DOING WHAT THEY KNEW BEST.

00:40:31.929 --> 00:40:36.851
Luis Capo: MY GRANDFATHER,
MY FATHER, MY UNCLES,

00:40:36.934 --> 00:40:41.564
YOU KNOW, THE ONLY BUSINESS THAT
WE HAVE IS FURNITURE IN CUBA.

00:40:41.647 --> 00:40:45.067
I THINK THE FIRST TOY I GOT
WAS A HAMMER.

00:40:45.151 --> 00:40:48.237
MY FATHER GIVE ME A HAMMER
TO MAKE FURNITURE.

00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:51.073
Narrator:
THE BUSINESS WAS IN THEIR BLOOD,

00:40:51.157 --> 00:40:53.826
SO THEY SET OUT TO ESTABLISH
THEIR OWN FURNITURE SHOP

00:40:53.909 --> 00:40:55.327
ON THE SIDE.

00:40:55.411 --> 00:40:57.246
Luis Capo: WE WORK
8 HOURS IN THE FACTORY,

00:40:57.329 --> 00:41:01.709
AND WE LEFT THERE AND GO TO THE
SHOP AND WORKING 8, 10 HOURS.

00:41:01.792 --> 00:41:07.381
WE WAS WORKING MAYBE 15, 16, 17
HOURS A DAY FOR A LONG TIME.

00:41:09.675 --> 00:41:12.678
Narrator: THEY HAD THE TALENT,
THEY HAD THE SKILLS.

00:41:12.761 --> 00:41:17.892
WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE WAS
CAPITAL, COLLATERAL, OR CREDIT.

00:41:17.975 --> 00:41:19.143
Luis Capo:
PEOPLE SAY ABOUT CREDIT,

00:41:19.226 --> 00:41:20.895
"WHAT IS CREDIT?
DO YOU HAVE CREDIT?

00:41:20.978 --> 00:41:22.938
WHAT DID CREDIT MEAN?"

00:41:23.022 --> 00:41:26.859
MY FATHER ONLY HAD THIRD--
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,

00:41:26.942 --> 00:41:30.237
WE WENT--CARLOS AND MYSELF
WENT UNTIL SIXTH GRADE.

00:41:30.321 --> 00:41:34.408
Narrator: THE CAPOS BROUGHT
THEIR GOOD REPUTATION FROM CUBA,

00:41:34.491 --> 00:41:38.078
AND A CUBAN FRIEND AT A BANK
PERSONALLY VOUCHED FOR THEM.

00:41:38.162 --> 00:41:42.082
THEY BORROWED $600
AND THEN ANOTHER 1,500

00:41:42.166 --> 00:41:46.420
AND OPENED THEIR FIRST STORE,
EL DORADO.

00:41:46.503 --> 00:41:52.801
Luis Capo:
THAT DAY WAS 1967, JUNE 27.

00:41:52.885 --> 00:41:56.805
THE SAME DAY THAT WE OPENED
THE FIRST EL DORADO DOOR,

00:41:56.889 --> 00:42:01.060
THAT DAY, MY MOTHER
AND MY 3 LITTLE BROTHERS

00:42:01.143 --> 00:42:02.978
ARRIVE FROM CUBA.

00:42:03.062 --> 00:42:06.774
Narrator: THEIR STORE WAS ON
CALLE OCHO IN LITTLE HAVANA,

00:42:06.857 --> 00:42:09.735
THE HEART OF THE CUBAN ENCLAVE.

00:42:09.818 --> 00:42:12.446
LESS THAN A YEAR
AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL,

00:42:12.529 --> 00:42:14.406
THE CAPOS'
ENTERPRISING ACCOUNTANT

00:42:14.490 --> 00:42:16.492
SUGGESTED GOING AFTER
BIGGER FISH,

00:42:16.575 --> 00:42:19.453
A FEDERAL LOAN FROM THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

00:42:19.536 --> 00:42:22.623
EARMARKED FOR CUBAN BUSINESSES.

00:42:22.706 --> 00:42:25.042
WHO WANT TO GIVE US SOME MONEY?

00:42:25.125 --> 00:42:29.838
WE HAVE NO CREDIT,
WE DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH,

00:42:29.922 --> 00:42:34.301
WE DON'T KNOW THE SYSTEM,
YOU KNOW, WE JUST LEARNING.

00:42:34.385 --> 00:42:36.637
HE SAID,
"LET'S MAKE THE APPLICATION

00:42:36.720 --> 00:42:39.515
AND LOOK SEE WHAT'S HAPPEN."

00:42:39.598 --> 00:42:46.480
3, 4 MONTHS LATER,
WE WAS APPROVED FOR $10,000.

00:42:46.563 --> 00:42:47.773
I CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT

00:42:47.856 --> 00:42:51.026
JUST THINKING THAT WE HAVE
TO PAY $197.00 A MONTH.

00:42:51.110 --> 00:42:52.861
ONE NIGHT I ASKED MY FATHER,

00:42:52.945 --> 00:42:56.323
"WHAT IF THEY SEND US BACK TO
CUBA BECAUSE WE CANNOT PAY?"

00:42:56.407 --> 00:42:57.741
YOU KNOW?

00:42:57.825 --> 00:43:01.829
Luis Capo: $10,000 FOR US IS
LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS TODAY.

00:43:01.912 --> 00:43:05.791
THAT LOAN PUT US IN THE--
ON THE MARKET.

00:43:08.085 --> 00:43:10.337
Narrator: THE CAPOS INCREASED
THEIR ANNUAL EARNINGS

00:43:10.421 --> 00:43:14.800
FROM $8,000 TO $250,000
IN A SINGLE YEAR,

00:43:14.883 --> 00:43:17.886
SELLING FURNITURE TO CUBANS
NOW ARRIVING IN MIAMI

00:43:17.970 --> 00:43:20.431
AT A RATE OF 1,000 A WEEK.

00:43:22.558 --> 00:43:24.727
IN TIME, EL DORADO
WOULD BECOME

00:43:24.810 --> 00:43:28.522
ONE OF THE LARGEST BUSINESSES
IN MIAMI.

00:43:28.605 --> 00:43:31.108
Man: THE TRADITIONAL
ASSIMILATION THEORY

00:43:31.191 --> 00:43:33.610
RAN INTO TROUBLE IN MIAMI.

00:43:33.694 --> 00:43:37.072
THE CUBANS ENDED UP
A FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL GROUP

00:43:37.156 --> 00:43:40.200
WITHOUT SHOWING A GREAT DEAL
OF THE TENDENCY TO ASSIMILATE.

00:43:40.284 --> 00:43:44.621
Narrator: MIAMI WOULD
COME A LONG WAY, TOO.

00:43:44.705 --> 00:43:46.457
BUILDING ON THE CUBAN SUCCESS,

00:43:46.540 --> 00:43:50.336
A RESORT TOWN WAS TRANSFORMED
INTO A MAJOR AMERICAN CITY,

00:43:50.419 --> 00:43:53.255
A HUB OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE.

00:43:55.174 --> 00:43:58.218
BUT FOR ALL THEIR SUCCESS
AS IMMIGRANTS,

00:43:58.302 --> 00:44:01.680
CUBANS LOST WHAT WAS
MOST DEAR TO THEM.

00:44:01.764 --> 00:44:03.265
Carlos Capo:
MY FATHER SAY HIS DREAM

00:44:03.349 --> 00:44:10.481
ACTUALLY WAS TO GO BACK TO CUBA
AND GO AROUND THE ISLAND

00:44:10.564 --> 00:44:12.983
AND STOP IN EVERY PORT...

00:44:13.067 --> 00:44:17.571
AND SEE THE TOWNS,
SEE THE PEOPLE,

00:44:17.654 --> 00:44:20.032
SEE PLACES THAT HE NEVER SAW.

00:44:21.950 --> 00:44:27.414
Narrator: MANUEL CAPÓ WOULD
NEVER SET SIGHT ON CUBA AGAIN.

00:44:28.624 --> 00:44:31.919
THERE WAS THIS PROMISE THAT WAS
BEING MADE TO US EVERY DAY

00:44:32.002 --> 00:44:33.337
THAT WE WOULD GO BACK,

00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:35.130
AND AS THE YEARS WENT BY,

00:44:35.214 --> 00:44:36.882
THE PROMISE DIDN'T COME TRUE,

00:44:36.965 --> 00:44:38.634
AND WE'LL GET TOGETHER
EVERY YEAR,

00:44:38.717 --> 00:44:40.135
THE WHOLE FAMILY IN MIAMI,

00:44:40.219 --> 00:44:43.138
AND THE TOAST WOULD BE "EL AÑO
QUE VIENE ESTAMOS EN CUBA,"

00:44:43.222 --> 00:44:45.808
"NEXT YEAR IN CUBA".

00:44:45.891 --> 00:44:50.020
BUT EVERY YEAR, THAT TOAST
BECAME A LITTLE MORE BITTER,

00:44:50.104 --> 00:44:52.189
IT BECAME A LITTLE MOURNFUL.

00:45:07.162 --> 00:45:08.414
Man: THE PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNISM

00:45:08.497 --> 00:45:10.290
ARE INCOMPATIBLE
WITH THE PRINCIPALS

00:45:10.374 --> 00:45:12.960
OF THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM...

00:45:13.043 --> 00:45:15.671
THIS IS WHAT OUR BELOVED
PRESIDENT, JOHN F. KENNEDY,

00:45:15.754 --> 00:45:22.636
MEANT WHEN LESS THAN A WEEK
BEFORE HIS DEATH HE TOLD US...

00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:26.598
WE MUST USE EVERY RESOURCE
AT OUR COMMAND

00:45:26.682 --> 00:45:32.479
TO PREVENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
ANOTHER CUBA IN THIS HEMISPHERE.

00:45:33.897 --> 00:45:36.650
Narrator: IN APRIL 1965,

00:45:36.733 --> 00:45:38.610
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR,

00:45:38.694 --> 00:45:44.199
42,000 U.S. TROOPS INVADED
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

00:45:44.283 --> 00:45:46.368
EVENTS LEADING
TO THE U.S. INVASION

00:45:46.452 --> 00:45:48.829
DATED BACK TO 1961

00:45:48.912 --> 00:45:50.205
TO THE UNREST TRIGGERED

00:45:50.289 --> 00:45:54.168
BY THE ASSASSINATION OF DICTATOR
RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO,

00:45:54.251 --> 00:45:59.214
GUNNED DOWN BY THE OPPOSITION
IN A CIA-BACKED PLOT.

00:45:59.298 --> 00:46:02.593
FROM EXILE IN NEW YORK
WHERE THEY HAD SETTLED

00:46:02.676 --> 00:46:05.637
AFTER NARROWLY ESCAPING
TRUJILLO'S WRATH,

00:46:05.721 --> 00:46:10.517
JULIA ALVAREZ AND HER FAMILY
WATCHED WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION.

00:46:10.601 --> 00:46:15.189
Alvarez: PAPI FELT HOPEFUL, AND
HE WENT BACK ON A SCOUTING TRIP,

00:46:15.272 --> 00:46:19.651
AND PAPI SAW ALL THE UNREST,
AND THEN THE CIVIL WAR CAME,

00:46:19.735 --> 00:46:21.153
AND HE SAID NO.

00:46:21.236 --> 00:46:24.281
IT'S LIKE HE SAID,
"WE'RE NOT GOING BACK."

00:46:24.364 --> 00:46:26.533
Narrator:
IN THE 3 YEARS

00:46:26.617 --> 00:46:28.827
FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION
OF TRUJILLO,

00:46:28.911 --> 00:46:30.996
5 PRESIDENTS CAME AND WENT,

00:46:31.079 --> 00:46:35.876
AND THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL
CRISIS ESCALATED INTO CIVIL WAR.

00:46:41.131 --> 00:46:43.884
THE AMERICAN MILITARY OCCUPATION
SUCCEEDED

00:46:43.967 --> 00:46:47.346
IN PREVENTING
THE FEARED COMMUNIST TAKEOVER.

00:46:47.429 --> 00:46:50.182
BUT THE NEW PRESIDENT,
JOAQUIN BALAGUER,

00:46:50.265 --> 00:46:53.060
WAS A FORMER ADVISOR
OF THE DICTATOR TRUJILLO,

00:46:53.143 --> 00:46:56.730
AND MANY DOMINICANS
WERE LEFT FEELING UNEASY.

00:46:56.813 --> 00:46:58.774
THE LIFE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

00:46:58.857 --> 00:47:01.485
WAS NOT SAFE AT THAT TIME.

00:47:01.568 --> 00:47:04.279
UNLESS YOU THINK
LIKE THE GOVERNMENT.

00:47:04.363 --> 00:47:08.909
SO I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO DIDN'T
THINK LIKE THE GOVERNMENT.

00:47:08.992 --> 00:47:11.078
Narrator:
A YOUNG DOMINICAN STUDENT,

00:47:11.161 --> 00:47:15.624
ELIGIO PENA, WAS AMONG THOSE
WHO DECIDED TO FLEE.

00:47:15.707 --> 00:47:17.167
[CHANTING]

00:47:17.251 --> 00:47:19.753
Narrator: HE HAD NO PROBLEM
GETTING A VISA.

00:47:19.836 --> 00:47:21.838
THE UNITED STATES
WAS USING IMMIGRATION

00:47:21.922 --> 00:47:24.299
AS A SAFETY VALVE
TO PREVENT FURTHER UNREST

00:47:24.383 --> 00:47:27.511
BY GETTING RID
OF THE OPPOSITION.

00:47:27.594 --> 00:47:31.139
MOST DOMINICANS
CAME TO NEW YORK.

00:47:31.223 --> 00:47:34.768
BUT THE CITY THAT
HAD ATTRACTED PUERTO RICANS

00:47:34.851 --> 00:47:39.898
ALMOST 25 YEARS EARLIER
HAD MUCH LESS TO OFFER NOW.

00:47:39.982 --> 00:47:42.526
JOBS WERE DISAPPEARING FAST,

00:47:42.609 --> 00:47:45.696
AND NEW YORK WAS ON THE VERGE
OF BANKRUPTCY.

00:47:45.779 --> 00:47:48.824
Cristina Garcia:
THEY'RE MOVING INTO THIS AREA

00:47:48.907 --> 00:47:50.951
JUST AS THE ECONOMY
WAS CHANGING,

00:47:51.034 --> 00:47:53.453
SO THEY HAVE TO EITHER FIND JOBS

00:47:53.537 --> 00:47:57.124
IN OTHER
NON-TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES

00:47:57.207 --> 00:47:59.376
OR CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THEMSELVES

00:47:59.459 --> 00:48:01.128
THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

00:48:03.213 --> 00:48:06.091
Narrator: THE 20 YEAR-OLD ELIGIO
WAS UNDETERRED.

00:48:06.174 --> 00:48:09.303
HE WORKED AT A PUERTO RICAN
BODEGA FOR A YEAR,

00:48:09.386 --> 00:48:13.515
AND THEN WITH THE HELP
OF AN UNCLE, BOUGHT IT.

00:48:13.599 --> 00:48:16.059
Gonzalez:
THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE SUPPORT,

00:48:16.143 --> 00:48:18.645
THERE WAS
NO GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

00:48:18.729 --> 00:48:21.607
THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN VERY RESOURCEFUL

00:48:21.690 --> 00:48:25.027
IN COMING UP WITH NEW STRATEGIES

00:48:25.110 --> 00:48:27.362
FOR POOLING CAPITAL IN A WAY

00:48:27.446 --> 00:48:32.242
TO BE ABLE TO BUILD UP
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS.

00:48:32.326 --> 00:48:34.328
Narrator: AT THE END
OF EACH WORKDAY,

00:48:34.411 --> 00:48:37.956
ELIGIO DROVE A TAXI
FOR AN ENTIRE SHIFT,

00:48:38.040 --> 00:48:40.667
BUT SOON HE CONCLUDED

00:48:40.751 --> 00:48:44.338
THE FUTURE OF HIS FAMILY
WAS HERE IN THIS COUNTRY,

00:48:44.421 --> 00:48:48.175
IN THIS CITY,
NOT BACK HOME.

00:48:48.258 --> 00:48:51.261
MY FATHER COME WITH THE ARGUMENT
THAT, "WE HAVE OUR OWN BUSINESS,

00:48:51.345 --> 00:48:52.929
WE HAVE A LOT OF LAND."

00:48:53.013 --> 00:48:56.808
I SAID, "POP, WHATEVER YOU HAVE,
IT'S GOOD FOR YOU AND MOM.

00:48:56.892 --> 00:49:01.355
"BUT IF YOU DIVIDE WHAT YOU HAVE
INTO 17,

00:49:01.438 --> 00:49:05.817
"WE DON'T GET ENOUGH
TO STAY IN THE ISLAND.

00:49:05.901 --> 00:49:10.989
"SO ALLOW ME TO BRING THE OTHER
BROTHERS INTO UNITED STATES

00:49:11.073 --> 00:49:12.157
"BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE

00:49:12.240 --> 00:49:16.286
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO START
THEIR OWN BUSINESS."

00:49:21.166 --> 00:49:24.252
Narrator: IN THE DECADE
FOLLOWING THE U.S. OCCUPATION,

00:49:24.336 --> 00:49:29.299
150,000 DOMINICANS
CAME STRAIGHT TO NEW YORK.

00:49:29.383 --> 00:49:30.425
THEY WOULD BUILD
THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

00:49:30.509 --> 00:49:33.220
ON THE BANKS
OF THE HUDSON RIVER,

00:49:33.303 --> 00:49:39.101
A NEW CULTURAL HOME ON THE
NORTH END OF MANHATTAN ISLAND.

00:49:39.184 --> 00:49:42.604
JULIA ALVAREZ WOULD
HAVE TO CREATE HER OWN HOME

00:49:42.688 --> 00:49:44.398
AWAY FROM HOME.

00:49:44.481 --> 00:49:47.067
AS HER PARENTS SETTLED THE
FAMILY IN A NEW YORK SUBURB,

00:49:47.150 --> 00:49:49.152
JULIA WOULD CUT HER OWN PATH

00:49:49.236 --> 00:49:53.532
THROUGH THE CULTURAL MAZE OF
1960s AMERICA.

00:49:53.615 --> 00:49:55.701
Alvarez: A LOT OF THE THINGS
THAT WHEN WE GOT HERE,

00:49:55.784 --> 00:49:57.411
YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF,

00:49:57.494 --> 00:50:01.248
SORT OF LOCKDOWN IN OUR BUNKER
KIND OF ATTITUDE.

00:50:01.331 --> 00:50:03.709
NO, WE COULDN'T HAVE
GIRLFRIENDS OVER.

00:50:03.792 --> 00:50:05.001
NO, WE COULDN'T TALK
ON THE PHONE,

00:50:05.085 --> 00:50:06.670
NO WE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW,

00:50:06.753 --> 00:50:11.383
IT WAS JUST SORT OF--
THEY WERE STILL IN TRAUMA.

00:50:11.466 --> 00:50:13.218
YOU GET OUT OF THE DICTATORSHIP,

00:50:13.301 --> 00:50:15.345
BUT THE DICTATORSHIP
IS STILL INSIDE YOU.

00:50:17.889 --> 00:50:21.268
Narrator: AT 13,
SHE WAS SENT TO BOARDING SCHOOL

00:50:21.351 --> 00:50:23.645
IN NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS.

00:50:23.729 --> 00:50:25.897
ABOUT 4 HOURS
FROM NEW YORK CITY,

00:50:25.981 --> 00:50:29.609
THE ABBOT ACADEMY
WAS A WORLD APART.

00:50:29.693 --> 00:50:32.279
Alvarez: THAT WAS THE OLD MODEL
OF IMMIGRATION TO--

00:50:32.362 --> 00:50:34.072
YOU CAME TO THE UNITED STATES,

00:50:34.156 --> 00:50:35.657
YOU CUT OFF YOUR TIES
TO THE PAST,

00:50:35.741 --> 00:50:40.412
AND THAT WAS THE PRICE YOU PAID
FOR BEING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

00:50:40.495 --> 00:50:41.955
WE WERE SO HOMESICK.

00:50:42.038 --> 00:50:44.624
WE WANTED TO GO BACK.

00:50:44.708 --> 00:50:47.544
Narrator: THE STORIES
OF JULIA'S DOMINICAN CHILDHOOD

00:50:47.627 --> 00:50:50.756
WOULD FILL THE PAGES
OF HER NOTEBOOKS.

00:50:52.340 --> 00:50:56.595
Alvarez: AS THE LEAVES FELL
AND THE AIR TURNED GREY

00:50:56.678 --> 00:50:58.388
AND THE COLD SET IN,

00:50:58.472 --> 00:51:02.517
I WOULD REMEMBER THE BIG HOUSE
IN BOCA CHICA,

00:51:02.601 --> 00:51:06.271
THE WAVES TELLING ME
THEIR SECRETS,

00:51:06.354 --> 00:51:10.275
THE COUSINS SLEEPING
SIDE BY SIDE IN THEIR COTS,

00:51:10.358 --> 00:51:11.818
AND I WOULD WONDER...

00:51:11.902 --> 00:51:14.988
Alvarez: AND IT WAS ONLY
AS I GREW OLDER,

00:51:15.071 --> 00:51:18.325
I WOULD JUST GO BACK HOME
TO THE D.R.,

00:51:18.408 --> 00:51:20.702
TO MY TIO'S AND TIA'S.

00:51:20.786 --> 00:51:22.871
YOU KNOW, AND GET MY SHOT
OF HOME,

00:51:22.954 --> 00:51:25.540
AND THEN GO BACK
INTO MY NORTH AMERICAN LIFE.

00:51:25.624 --> 00:51:32.214
IT CREATED A KIND OF
CULTURAL SCHIZOPHRENIA.

00:51:32.297 --> 00:51:35.842
AS MAMI WOULD SAY,
"EL PAPEL LO AGUANTA TODO,"

00:51:35.926 --> 00:51:38.136
PAPER HOLDS ANY THING,

00:51:38.220 --> 00:51:40.680
SO I PUT EVERYTHING IN THERE,

00:51:40.764 --> 00:51:45.227
AND IT BECAME FOR ME A PLACE
WHERE I COULD BE INTEGRATED.

00:51:45.310 --> 00:51:48.104
Narrator: THE TUG OF WAR
BETWEEN HER DOMINICAN

00:51:48.188 --> 00:51:50.106
AND AMERICAN SELVES

00:51:50.190 --> 00:51:51.650
WOULD PLAY OUT ON THE PAGES

00:51:51.733 --> 00:51:54.444
OF HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS
LOST THEIR ACCENTS.

00:51:54.528 --> 00:51:57.155
Alvarez: IT'S LIKE
YOU HAVE TO REINVENT YOUR SELF,

00:51:57.239 --> 00:52:00.992
BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GO DEEPER

00:52:01.076 --> 00:52:04.955
AND DISCOVER MAYBE YOUR CALLING
OR YOUR PASSION.

00:52:05.038 --> 00:52:08.834
Narrator: JULIA'S FIRST NOVEL
WOULD LAUNCH HER CAREER

00:52:08.917 --> 00:52:12.546
AS AN IMPORTANT LITERARY VOICE
OF HER GENERATION.

00:52:12.629 --> 00:52:14.339
Alvarez: YOU KNOW,
THAT IMMIGRATION;

00:52:14.422 --> 00:52:16.049
I WOULD NEVER
HAVE BECOME A WRITER

00:52:16.132 --> 00:52:19.761
IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR--
FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.

00:52:19.845 --> 00:52:22.305
THOSE MIXTURES ARE PART--

00:52:22.389 --> 00:52:24.349
IT'S LIKE YOUR FINGERPRINT.

00:52:24.432 --> 00:52:28.728
IT ALL GETS TO BE PART
OF YOUR IDENTITY