Certainly, there was a significant African influence on
the entire population of the island. In 1860, it was estimated
that almost 50 percent of the island's residents were Negro. In
1900, the percentage had dropped to 40 percent, and, by 1950, it
had dropped to 20 percent. The change in these statistics was
due to assimilation through intermarriage. Those who migrated to
the continent did not include many with dominant negroid
characteristics. The 1960 New York City census listed only 4
percent of its Puerto Ricans as being Negro. Nathan Glazer and
Daniel P. Moynihan, in their study of this community, believed
that the Puerto Rican racial attitudes may alter the racial views
of the entire city and thereby have some effect on the nation.
Puerto Ricans are not as race conscious as are most Americans.
Most of them are not clearly either black or white. Intermarriage
between color groups is common. The Puerto Rican community in
New York City is more conscious of being a separate, Spanish-
speaking community than it is of being either a black or white
one.
The other major Caribbean element in the American Spanish-
speaking community comes from Cuba.
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