An Invisible Minority

In the mid-1980s, a relatively new immigrant stream from Brazil began to arrive in New York City. Separated by language and culture from both the majority and other South American minorities, Brazilians have forged their own path. Many Brazilians in New York were middle-class in Brazil yet have traditionally struggled alongside other immigrant populations to locate sustainable work in an ever-changing economy. Additionally, their separation from other Hispanic groups, given their Portuguese roots, has resulted in a unique situation for the at least 150,000 Brazilians in the greater New York metropolitan area.

Maxine L. Margolis, professor of anthropology at the University of Florida, is the author of several books including Little Brazil, Mothers and Such.