Signs of a Spanish Neighborhood

October 24, 2009 | New York, New York | Vetting explained

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Last updated: October 24, 2009

CNN producer note

sjunat55 tells me he's been wanting to snap photos of Spanish Harlem for weeks. "Along with the South Bronx and Washington Heights, it remains a center of Spanish life and tradition," he said.
- zdan, CNN iReport producer

iReport —

Spanish Harlem, "El Barrio', one of the original Spanish neighborhoods in New York City is still as Latin as it goes. Originally dominated in the 1950's by immigrants from Puerto Rico , a U.S. territory, is now a rainbow of nationalities from all over Latin America, specially Dominican and Mexican, besides Puerto Rican.

Here are some signs that tell a story of Spanishood in the neighborhood.

1-The mural "The Spirit of East Harlem", on the side of a brownstone, by Hank Prussing with the assistance of Manny Vega, from 1978- a project of hope, bringing change to the neighborhood one block at a time, represented by art.

2-The Hispanic Voice- La Voz Hispana- a local newspaper for the area that you can pick up on street corners.

3-Hard to translate what a "cuchifrito" is- best thing is to taste one. Notice the flags from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S.

4-Carmen Rodriguez has been selliong alcapurrias in the corner of 116th and Madison for more than 20 years- food is a Spanish tradition.

5-Right above the subway station- the center for Mexican food. Worlds merge.

6-A Spanish pharmacy- local businesses to serve locals- notice the fencing on the top.

7-An evangelical gospel temple housed in a brownstone.

8-La Marqueta- Spanglish for The Narket- a staple of daily life in Spanish Harlem- food for sale from all over Latin America hard to find anywhere else.

9-A political poster from the September primaries- a local who lost, A sign of the problem with getting out the vote.

10-Signs of change in the neighborhood.

For more on Spanish Harlem, go here http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-345803

Posted in Assignment:
Being Latino in America

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