Brown in the Windy City: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in Postwar Chicago (Historical Studies of Urban America)

__Brown in the Windy City__is the first history to examine the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in postwar Chicago. Lilia Fernández reveals how the two populations arrived in Chicago in the midst of tremendous social and economic change and, in spite of declining industrial employment and massive urban renewal projects, managed to carve out a geographic and racial place in one of America’s great cities. Through their experiences in the city’s central neighborhoods over the course of these three decades, Fernández demonstrates how Mexicans and Puerto Ricans collectively articulated a distinct racial position in Chicago, one that was flexible and fluid, neither black nor white. "Like other industrial cities in the postwar period, Chicago underwent the dramatic population shifts that radically changed the complexion of the urban north. As African American populations grew and white communities declined throughout the 1960s and ?70s, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans migrated to the city, adding a complex layer to local racial dynamics. Brown in the Windy City is the first history to examine the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in the postwar era. Here, Lilia Fernandez reveals how the two populations arrived in Chicago in the midst of tremendous social and economic change and, in the midst of declining industrial employment and massive urban renewal projects, managed to carve out a geographic and racial place in one of America?s great cities. Over the course of these three decades, through their experiences in the city?s central neighborhoods, Fern?ndez demonstrates how Mexicans and Puerto Ricans collectively articulated a distinct racial position in Chicago, one that was flexible and fluid, neither black nor white."--Publisher's description This Title Examines The Migration And Settlement Of Mexicans And Puerto Ricans In The Postwar Era. Here, Lilia Fernández Reveals How The Two Populations Arrived In Chicago In The Midst Of Tremendous Social And Economic Change, And, In The Midst Of Declining Industrial Employment And Massive Urban Renewal Projects, Managed To Carve Out A Geographic And Racial Place In One Of America's Great Cities. Mexican And Puerto Rican Labor Migration To Chicago -- Putting Down Roots: Mexican And Puerto Rican Settlement On The Near West Side, 1940-60 -- Race, Class, Housing, And Urban Renewal: Dismantling The Near West Side -- Pushing Puerto Ricans Around: Urban Renewal, Race And Neighborhood Change -- The Evolution Of The Young Lords Organization: From Street Gang To Revolutionaries -- From Eighteenth Street To La Dieciocho: Neighborhood Transformation In The Age Of The Chicano Movement -- The Limits Of Nationalism: Women's Activism And The Founding Of Mujeres Latinas En Acción -- Conclusion. Lilia Fernandez. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Nuanced and meticulous analysis . . . The first historical study to examine Chicago's Mexican and Puerto Rican populations in the same frame." — Journal of Social History Brown in the Windy City is the first history to examine the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in postwar Chicago. Lilia Fernández reveals how the two populations arrived in Chicago in the midst of tremendous social and economic change and, in spite of declining industrial employment and massive urban renewal projects, managed to carve out a geographic and racial place in one of America's great cities. Through their experiences in the city's central neighborhoods over the course of three decades, Fernández demonstrates how Mexicans and Puerto Ricans collectively articulated a distinct racial position in Chicago, one that was flexible and fluid, neither black nor white. "A rich portrait of neighborhood life." —Carmen Teresa Whalen, author of From Puerto Rico to Philadelphia "An essential read." — Time Out Chicago Brown in the Windy City claims to be the first history to examine the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in postwar Chicago. Lilia Fernndez reveals how the two populations arrived in Chicago in the midst of tremendous social and economic change and, in spite of declining industrial employment and massive urban renewal projects, managed to carve out a geographic and racial place in one of Americas great cities. Through their experiences in the citys central neighborhoods over the course of these three decades, Fernndez demonstrates how Mexicans and Puerto Ricans collectively articulated a distinct racial position in Chicago, one that was flexible and fluid, neither black nor white. Brown in the Windy City is the first history to examine the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in postwar Chicago. Lilia Fernández reveals how the two populations arrived in Chicago in the midst of tremendous social and economic change and, in spite of declining industrial employment and massive urban renewal projects, managed to carve out a geographic and racial place in one of America’s great cities. Through their experiences in the city’s central neighborhoods over the course of these three decades, Fernández demonstrates how Mexicans and Puerto Ricans collectively articulated a distinct racial position in Chicago, one that was flexible and fluid, neither black nor white. Examines the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in postwar Chicago. The author reveals how the two populations arrived in Chicago in the midst of social and economic change and, in spite of declining industrial employment and massive urban renewal projects, managed to carve out a geographic and racial place in Chicago. As African American populations grew and white communities declined throughout the 1960s and '70s, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans migrated to the city, adding a complex layer to local racial dynamics, this book provides history to examine the migration and settlement of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in the postwar era.