Quote:
Originally Posted by Docere
While slower to move than Jews, Italians were on the move as well in the 1950s. East Harlem was still the biggest Italian concentration in NYC in 1940, but by the 1950s it was "Spanish Harlem" - the biggest Puerto Rican concentration on the US mainland.
Given their tendency to "defend the neighborhood" it's interesting that East Harlem ceased to be Italian so quickly.
|
East Harlem still has a tiny handful of Italians, and a number of businesses, on the eastern fringes. I think it had a sizable Italian population till the 1970's or so.
Spanish and Italian Harlem existed simultaneously. I think east of Park was more Italian than Hispanic till at least 1960 or so. The Metro North line divided the neighborhood.
Jewish and Irish Harlem existed till the 1960's too. West Harlem, north of Columbia, was Jewish/Irish. Really only Central Harlem was black pre-1970. Actually I'm not sure if the Broadway corridor in Harlem was ever plurality black, as Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans were established once the Irish and Jews left. The AA population was never huge west of Amsterdam Ave., I think.