This project is a research/analysis of Brazilian immigration patterns in the city of Miami, Florida over time. See the following information from previous proposals:
I am
interested in analyzing the migration of Brazilians into Miami over time, and
how that migration has created cultural change in the city. Because Miami is so
culturally diverse, it is definitely a topic that will yield a lot of great
information about different Brazilian communities and how Brazilians are making
their mark and finding their place in the gateway to Latin America.
I would
love to use the experience and knowledge I have gathered from my time studying
under the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship to contribute to my
insight. Things like migration studies and urban dynamics often go hand in
hand, and it’s very important for us to understand the impact of how
communities can shape a pre-existing region.
I also
think this is an increasingly pressing topic in the current political climate
we are experiencing. Brazil recently reinstated the visa requirement for
American tourists, so there is a unique aspect of tension within
Brazilian-American communities. I would love to analyze this aspect of
migration and how things have changed, but I fear there won’t be very much data
on that quite yet. I could also take a look at how initiatives and campaigns by
Florida politicians have created barriers for immigrants and examine where and
why Brazilian communities are concentrated in Miami.
Something
else that I find interested about Miami as it relates to Brazilian migration is
that although Miami is the 3rd most popular city for Brazilian immigrants, they
make up less than 4% of the total migrant population in Miami. I think this
could give way to larger discussions about diversity in Miami and the
importance of recognizing intercultural patterns.
Language
is another aspect from which I would like to conduct my research. Although
Spanish is clearly the most dominant foreign language spoken in Miami, far
surpassing the number of native English speakers, Portuguese is actually the
3rd most common language spoken in Miami. At a rate of 1.12% versus the
national rate of 0.2%, I think that examining linguistic insights and personal
anecdotes about linguistic challenges could provide some pretty compelling
data.
I also
have a strong desire to understand the struggles of immigrant communities.
Growing up in a very diverse community, I have personal experience with how
immigrants have contributed their own unique cultural traditions into our
existing American traditions, and it has become a beautiful melting pot.
I hope
to use this project to not only bring awareness to Brazilian immigrants and
their importance for the diversity and economy of Miami, but I also want to
amplify their voices and give them a platform to share their stories and
experiences.
I am analyzing Brazilian immigration in Miami. Looking at the Brazilian community, it’s clear that there is a deep history of immigration patterns and cultural vibrance. I have found various primary and secondary sources that have given me some pretty cool insights about the topic.
First of all, the Brazilian presence in Miami is often overlooked. However, it’s a very real occurrence. I found some newspaper publications and journal articles detailing immigration patterns in Miami and other regions of South Florida, especially during periods of instability in Brazill. These gave me a unique understanding of the different aspects of immigration.
Miami also has many cultural sites where Brazilians can express themselves and share their culture and heritage. Many Brazilians congregate in parks, museums, and other local buildings and regions to promote cohesion and share customs from back home.
I also found information on socio-economic trends, cultural assimilation, and community involvement, all of which I hope to touch on as I continue to work on this project throughout the next week.
Source examples (these are just examples, I would prefer at least 2 newspapers, the rest can be scholarly articles). One thing you could do, through sources like newspapers (is there a Portuguese language paper in Miami?) is to uncover how the Brazilian community has been written about so far. Not sure if there are any big secondary works on Brazilian Miami but those would be good to locate as well.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/brazilian-immigrants-united-states
