Portuguese+American+Artwork

Portuguese Immigration

The Portuguese started immigrating to Canada, Brazil, and the United States in the early seventeenth century. Portuguese fisherman had established themselves in America even before the Revolutionary War. For the most part Portuguese people immigrated to America for both economic and religious reasons. In fact the first Jewish community in America was made up of Portuguese refugees. Then later on around the 1830’s came the main wave of Portuguese immigration that came from a group of nine islands in the Atlantic ocean, called the Azores. The Azores are around 800 miles from Lisbon and many of the Portuguese people that came from there settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. When they arrived many continued doing what they have always done for work, this being fishermen. Then there were others who worked in California in mines or lumber camps. By 1850, in Illinois, there were two large settlements that were occupied by protestant refugees from a Portuguese island called Madeira. Later on, Newark, New Jersey became densely populated with Portuguese immigrants. Another large wave, although smaller than the last, arrived in 1890. In turn there were more than 200,000 Madeirans, Cape Verdeans, and Azoreans that came to America and established themselves as farmers, textile workers, and fisherman by the year 1920.

Out of all of the Portuguese people who immigrated to the United States there are a few people who stick out. One of which was known as “The Brazilian Bombshell” who in fact was born in Portugal. Her name was Carmen Miranda who moved to the United States and became one of the highest paid performers in the country. She became a star of big Hollywood musicals in the 1940’s and 50’s. She was known for her colorful costumes and having fruit perched on top of her head. She also starred in twentieth century films, some of which were Down Argentine Way and The Gang's All Here. Another artist that was born in Portugal and later immigrated to the United States was a woman named Leonor Alvim Brazao. She is a painter who paints things that happen throughout her life and from the experiences that she has. One of her famous paintings is entitled “Green Sneakers."

The film The Gang’s All Here, starring Carmen Miranda is more or less about the experiences of life. It shows different aspects of life and things that may happen. This film helps people to understand what true love really is. A different type of art portrayed by Leonor Brazao shows us all about the different experiences that she goes through. Everything that she draws come from her own experiences and this shows people to treat everyday like it is your last and live life to the fullest.

By Anthony Valles