Brazilians in New York
Global Samba just got back from New York and we had a great time. You may remember our interview with Quenia Ribeiro, Brazilian samba professional and guru. Well, we got to meet her in person. Her samba class was so much fun!, we danced Rio and samba reggae styles. She is a ball of energy and super sweet!
We briefly talked about the carnival parade which happens on W 46th street (Little Brazil) in September. Quenia mentioned she participates, however it doesn't have a large presence.
Why so small for the Big Apple? Where are all the Brazilians in New York?!
This question got me thinking about the history of Brazilians migrating to New York. Maybe understanding the history would shed some light on why the largest and most famous parade known to Brazilians is fairly small there. Luckily, Dr. Maxine Margolis asked the same historical question in the 1980's and wrote a book about her research entitled, Little Brazil: An Ethnography of Brazilian Immigrants in New York City.
Dr. Maxine Margolis uncovered some of the unknown facts about the Brazilian community in New York. When Brazilians migrated (also to other areas in the east coast of the US), they mainly settled on W 46th Street and in Astoria, Queens. Brazilians migrated mostly as educated middle class. Many excelled and were owners of Brazilian banks and other establishments and some were part of the labor intensive jobs from housekeeping to restaurant work. Dr. Maxine Margolis spend a couple of years speaking with hundreds of families and informants to bring to life the journeys of Brazilians. It took so long because much of the immigration information doesn't exist, and many families would be deported if found illegal so stayed very much under the radar. These communities were bound by language barriers in some cases and didn't want to bring attention to themselves.
Does this explain why carnaval is rather small? While the communities do celebrate, they aren't yelling from the rooftops, we are here!
Next year Global Samba wants to join the New Yorkers at the carnaval and really find out for ourselves.
If you have any insights about Brazilians in New York we would love to learn more.
1 comments:
Dear Global Samba,
Congratulation on your idea of writing about Brazilians in NY.
My name is Carlos de Oliveira, Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, educator, musician and community organizer living in NY since 2000. I would like to make an important correction here. There is a misconception about Carnival in NY. There is no Carnaval in NYC whatsoever. What you call carnival parade that happens on 46th Street is in fact one of the biggest Brazilian street fair. In order to have a Brazilian carnival you would need at least a samba school or blocos de carnaval, if you want to copy the Rio de Janeiro style or Blocos Afros, Trio electricos and Afoxes, if you want to copy the Bahia style or other forms like Pernambuco and other northern states.
A parade is a group of people in motion on street following a route from point A to point B. That is not what happen on 46th Street.
New York Samba School along with other groups are organizing the first Brazilian carnival Rio de Janeiro style which will be held on July 2011.
You can get more info about that writing to newyorksambaschool@gmail.com
Peace and love
Carlos de Oliveira
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