Radio Workshop

Finding Roots in The Big Apple (Transcript)

by Carla Sapsford

The New York Brazilian community is not well known, and is small compared to other immigrant groups. Most of the estimated 200,000 Brazilians came here after the collapse of the Brazilian economy in the 80s. Starting out is hard for any immigrant group, but this community has also faced a lack of service organizations and politicians to help them. Carla Sapsford reports.

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NARRATION

TK (:TK)

Marjorie Margolis is a professor of anthropology at the University of Florida. She has studied New York Brazilians for over twenty years and has written a book called "Little Brazil." Recently, as Brazilians find they can not go home as the INS clamps down on undocumented immigrants, they are having to let go of old ties. Spread out across the tri-state area, Brazilians found it easy to become isolated.

TAPE:MARGOLIS

TK (:TK)

Initially I thought the reason why were no such organizations was because Brazilians are really temporary...95/100 said that they were here just to make money and go back, and so people like that don't want to spend time or invest money in community building and organizations.

NARRATION

TK (:TK)

Margolis found several surprising things about this community, that set them apart. Brazilians only planned to stay a year or two, unlike other groups. They traveled back and forth constantly between New York and Brazil. They never used to set down roots. There are exceptions, however. Roberto Lima has lived in Newark for 19 years, and is one of a growing number of Brazilians buying houses, marrying and having families here.

TAPE:LIMA

TK (:TK)

They are on their own. It is a cultural thing. Brazilians don't have like an organization that takes care of Brazilian matters over here.

NARRATION

TK (:TK)

And as publisher of the Brazilian Voice, he said he has been frustrated at the lack of cohesion among his fellow Brazilians. Only recently, he said, are many Brazilians facing the unexpected fact that they are here to stay. And the longer they stay, especially in hard times, the more potential problems they face. In times of great stress, Brazilians turn to either their consulate or the Catholic Church. The most prominent Portuguese-speaking priest in the area is Father Amarilho Checon of St. Malachy's in Mount Vernon. He said he at times feels like a voice in the wilderness, telling people to organize who don't yet see the value. So his church is a safe harbor.

TAPE:CHECON

TK (:TK)

In my community, there is no other alternative. Contrary to other ethnic groups, Brazilians are not organized yet...You need an organization, an office and people can go there and create some kind of good relationship with the community. We are not doing that.

NARRATION

TK (:TK)

There is hope, say the Brazilian old-timers in New York. Roberto Lima.

TAPE: LIMA

TK (:TK)

You know, 20 to 30 years from now it is very likely we are going to have a stronger community with a better sense of unity. Most important, I think, is the new generation interacting with the, the Americans. They will have this sense of urgency of getting Brazilians together.

NARRATION

TK (:TK)

As the next generation of Brazilians grows up only knowing these streets, they won't see themselves as Brazilian. And some community leaders say, only when the young are truly American will all Brazilians find their voice in a city that is still not used to hearing them. Carla Sapsford, for Columbia Radio News.

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