Adolescent and second-generation Brazilian immigrants in Massachusetts

Abstract

This article analyses the "new" second generation of Brazilian immigrants in the state of Massachusetts, USA. First, a number of characteristics of the second generation of Brazilians who were born on American soil are presented quantitatively. The data was based on the number of children registered at the General Consulate of Brazil in Boston and the number of children with maternal Brazilian ancestors computed at the Department of Public Health (DPH)of Massachusetts. Most of the article, however, treats of adolescents whose first socialization had already taken place in Brazil and who later migrated to the United States with their parents when they were older, some as teenagers. These youth later acquired schooling and cultural identity very similar to those seen in immigrants of other nationalities and in American youth. The insertion of these adolescents in American society through school and work is especially gone into. This part of the article is based on data gleaned from two sources, namely, a study carried out in late 2000 on teenagers at schools, churches and associations, and the results of a questionnaire applied in 2002 at public schools in Massachusetts that have bilingual English¬Portuguese programs. The article also discusses the challenge of university education for our young immigrants whose legal situation has not yet been regularized.