It examines the commonalty of experiences in migrating and assimilating in the Northeastern United States, with emphasis on New York because it became the focal point of settlement for both groups. This unit was written to help students learn about their culture and the culture of others. It has been my observation that only a few teachers teach Puerto Rican students about their culture.
More attention is given to the teaching of Black history.
Generally most cultural units are taught or presented separately. I feel that while one half of the class maintains interest, the other half turns off because they fail to see any relationship to the other group under study. By instituting a parallel approach that emphasizes similarities and differences, students will gain a more well-rounded curriculum, interest will be maintained, and students will begin to identify with other cultures. This unit traces the history of the Afro-American from his entry into this country as a slave and proceeds through the twentieth century. This unit traces the history of Puerto Rico from the advent of the Spanish American War, and it examines the history of Puerto Ricans from conquest to becoming a commonwealth.