PUERTO RICANS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES: A report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights October 1976 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL U S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS OCTOBER 1976 THE PRESIDENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Sirs: The Commission on Civil Rights presents this report to you pursuant to Public Law 85-315, as amended. This report looks at the Puerto Rican community in the continental United States in order to identify its relevant social and economic characteristics and those issues of primary concern to this group. Special attention is given to the employment and educational characteristics of Puerto Ricans residing on the U.S. mainland and whether government at all levels has addressed their needs. There are 1.7 million Puerto Ricans residing in the mainland United States. They are found in every State of the Union. As U.S. citizens, they migrate to the mainland from Puerto Rico in search of better job opportunities and a better education for their children. Once they arrive, the vast majority are relegated to a dismal existence in the urban ghetto. Puerto Ricans on the mainland have one of the highest unemployment and underemployment rates in those area where they reside; they have a high proportion of families living at the poverty level; and they have the highest school dropout rate in their communities. They also represent a growing segment of our language-minority citizens whose special needs for meaningful job training programs and bilingual-bicultural education have not been adequately addressed by the Federal, State, and local governments. Contrary to earlier assumptions, our study shows that for the vast majority of Puerto Ricans living in the cities of the East and Midwest, their successful entry into the mainstream of American society is still most uncertain. Puerto Ricans ask that they be given an opportunity to participate on an equal footing with their fellow citizens of the fruits and benefits of our society. It is incumbent upon government at all levels to guarantee that their rights are not denied and that their special language needs are taken into consideration. We urge your consideration of the information, findings, and recommendations presented here. Respectfully, Arthur S. Flemming, Chairman Frankie M. Freeman Manuel Ruiz, Jr. Murray Saltzman John A. Buggs, Staff Director |