Introduction: New York City and the New Caribbean Immigration: A Contextual Statement

Abstract

This paper explores the socio-historical, demographic and cultural aspects of Caribbean migration to New York as a traditional entrepot of immigration and as an indicator of the degree of economic and political development of the United States. The Caribbean emigration movement is an old one and predominantly urban in character. The recent increase in the Caribbean presence in New York City implies serious changes for its cultural and ethnic configuration, greater cosmopolitization, and international lin? kages. Similarly, the movement emphasizes the need for a new and more egalitarian, integrated and multi-level public policy and attitude on the part of the United States toward these immigrants, their source countries, and their cities of settlement.