Racial Segregation In Miami

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I) Intro: Miami is a city of immigrants. Hispanics, Cubans in specific, now dominate nearly all sectors of the municipality: economically, culturally, and politically. Alongside Whites, Hispanics segregate themselves from other races, particularly Blacks. This paper will analyze the constructs, such as social capital, that attribute to Cubans’ successful creation of the enclave and will compare such experience with other racial groups.

II) Racial Makeup of Miami: Demographics and Distribution:

A) Demographics

The city of Miami is defined by the ascendancy of Hispanics. At 63.5% they illustrate the majority of the population, with Blacks at 18.5% and Whites at 15.4% following behind. (Figure A) The Hispanic population can most directly be attributed to the immigration of Cuban exiles during the mid and late twentieth century. The state of Florida houses 77% of the Cuban population within the United States, the city of Miami containing the largest number. (www.census.gov)

B) Distribution:

The racial distribution of Miami is characterized by segregation and racial isolation, both by choice and by force. This segregation can most simply be organized into white suburbs, hispanic

The neighborhood is culturally comprised of Hispanics, more specifically, Cuban immigrants. This area resulted from the accumulation of Cuban exiles into Miami during the mid-late twentieth century. The black ghettos of Miami are located north of the city center. Adjacent to the Cuban enclave is Miami’s most concentrated neighborhood ghetto: Overtown. Above you can find a circle of predominantly White neighborhoods surrounding Miami’s second ghetto, Liberty City with a 94.6% Black population. (Mohl, 39) From Figure C segregation can be identified between White, Black, and Hispanic groups, while the presence of other minorities groups (such as Asians) is nearly