Cape Verdean Americans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cape Verdean Americans
Americanos cabo-verdianos

Total population
by ancestry: 101,013 (2019) by birth: 33,119 (2007–2011)
Regions with significant populations
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia
Languages
English, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole (creole of Indo-European languages and Niger-Congo languages)
Religion
Roman Catholic and Protestant
Related ethnic groups
Portuguese Americans

Cape Verdean Americans are people living in the United States whose families originally came from Cape Verde. Cape Verde is a group of islands off the coast of West Africa. In 2010, about 95,000 Americans said they had Cape Verdean ancestors.

How Cape Verdeans Came to America

Cape Verdean people started coming to the United States in the early 1800s. Before Cape Verde became an independent country in 1975, immigrants were often listed as Portuguese. This was because Cape Verde was a Portuguese colony.

Early Journeys on Whaling Ships

Many of the first Cape Verdean immigrants came on whaling ships from New England. These ships would often stop in Cape Verde to pick up crew members. Sailors from Cape Verde were known for being hardworking and honest. They were also willing to work for less money than American sailors. This made them very valuable to the ship captains.

Over time, Cape Verdeans even bought and managed many of the old whaling ships themselves. They sailed these ships all over the world.

Escaping Hardship and Finding Opportunity

The Cape Verde Islands faced many challenges like drought and economic decline. This happened after slavery was ended in the Portuguese Empire in 1869. These hardships led many people to leave their homes.

When Cape Verdean men arrived in America, they could send money and news back home. They also sent barrels full of food and clothes. This helped their families and encouraged others to come to "the land of opportunity."

The oldest and largest Cape Verdean communities in the U.S. are in New Bedford, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. These communities are known for strong family ties.

Working in New Industries

Besides whaling, many Cape Verdeans found work in other industries. A lot of them worked in the cranberry bogs in Southeastern Massachusetts. This was a big part of the cranberry industry.

Changes in Immigration Rules

In 1922, the U.S. government made it harder for people of color to immigrate. This greatly slowed down Cape Verdean immigration. It also made it difficult for Cape Verdean Americans to visit their home islands. They worried they might not be allowed back into the U.S. This separation lasted for about 40 years.

During this time, some Cape Verdean Americans moved from the East Coast to places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.

In 1966, new laws made immigration easier again. This led to a new wave of Cape Verdean immigrants. They settled in places like Boston, Brockton, and Taunton in Massachusetts. They also went to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and other East Coast cities. These new arrivals met Cape Verdean Americans who had been in the U.S. for a long time. They looked similar but had different cultural experiences because they had been separated for so long.

Cape Verde's Independence and New Paths

Cape Verde became fully independent from Portugal on July 5, 1975. This was after a long fight for their rights. Independence opened new doors for migration. Cape Verde became one of the few African countries that allowed European and U.S. planes to fly over. This made travel easier.

Later, economic struggles in Cape Verde also encouraged more people to emigrate.

Where Cape Verdeans Live in the U.S.

Most Cape Verdean Americans live in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Some also settled in the Midwest, Florida, and California.

States with Many Cape Verdeans

As of 2010, the states with the largest Cape Verdean populations were:

• Massachusetts - 53,174 people
• Rhode Island - 19,490 people
• Connecticut - 4,381 people
• Florida - 2,983 people
• California - 2,514 people
• New Jersey - 1,430 people
• Virginia - 1,059 people
• Maryland - 1,022 people
• New York - 844 people
• Georgia - 802 people

Cities with Large Cape Verdean Communities

The cities with the most Cape Verdeans in 2010 included:

• New Bedford, Massachusetts - 11,709 people
• Boston, Massachusetts - 11,284 people
• Brockton, Massachusetts - 11,262 people
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island - 8,720 people
• Fall River, Massachusetts - 7,197 people
• Taunton, Massachusetts - 7,313 people
• Wareham, Massachusetts - 5,015 people
• Providence, Rhode Island - 4,852 people
• Randolph, Massachusetts - 3,784 people
• East Providence, Rhode Island - 2,265 people
• Central Falls, Rhode Island - 1,158 people
• Bridgeport, Connecticut - 1,080 people

Immigration from Cape Verde continues today. Communities like Dorchester, Brockton, Taunton, New Bedford, Pawtucket, and Onset, Massachusetts are growing quickly with new immigrants.

Becoming Part of American Society

When Cape Verdeans first came to America, they sometimes faced discrimination. They had a unique culture that was different from other African American groups. This was especially true for those who settled outside the main Cape Verdean communities in New England.

Keeping Their Identity

Most Cape Verdeans are Catholic, like many other white immigrant groups at the time. However, they kept their own distinct identity. They often lived in separate communities from other African American groups.

During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Cape Verdeans saw similarities between their own struggles and those of African Americans. This led to a feeling of togetherness.

Cape Verdeans often have a mix of African, European, and Jewish ancestry. This makes their population very unique. Because of this, many Cape Verdeans choose to identify their race as "Cape Verdean" on forms. This shows their strong pride in their heritage and community.

The U.S. has been home to the largest number of Cape Verdeans living outside Cape Verde for over a century. Today, the internet helps connect Cape Verdean communities around the world. Websites help them stay in touch with each other and with Cape Verde.

Skin Color and Heritage

Some Cape Verdeans have lighter skin tones. This is partly because Portuguese colonizers often married people from African colonies. This led to a wide variety of skin tones, hair textures, and eye colors among Cape Verdeans. It's common for members of the same family to have different appearances.

Because of this unique mix, the Massachusetts census even allows people to check a "Cape-Verdean" box for ethnic identification.

Languages Spoken

Cape Verdean Americans usually speak English, Portuguese, and Kriolu (also called Crioulo). Kriolu is a Creole language. It is a mix of Portuguese and the African languages spoken by enslaved people. Some islands, like Fogo and Brava, have also adopted many English words into their Kriolu.

After Cape Verde became independent in 1975, Kriolu became the main language spoken on the islands.

Kriolu Dialects and Identity

Kriolu is not an official language in Cape Verde, and it's not the same everywhere. There are different dialects on different islands. This is why migrants often feel more connected to their specific island than to Cape Verde as a whole. Language, food, and music are very important parts of Cape Verdean identity.

The Cape Verdean Creole Institute was started in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1996. Its goal is to teach the Cape Verdean language. Many schools in the Boston Public School district also offer Cape Verdean Creole as a language class. About 2.3% of Boston's population speaks Kriolu.

Studying Kriolu

People have been studying the Kriolu language since the late 1800s. When the first printing press came to Cape Verde in 1842, people started publishing written works in Kriolu. This helped make Kriolu more accepted as an artistic language.

There are different ways of thinking about Kriolu. Some people used to see creole languages as less important or "broken" versions of other languages. However, another idea, called Crioulidade, celebrates Cape Verde's unique heritage. This view sees Kriolu as its own special language, a blend of African and Portuguese influences, with its own history and cultural meaning.

Religion

Most Cape Verdeans and Cape Verdean Americans are Roman Catholic. This is because of Cape Verde's history as a Portuguese colony.

Catholic Faith and Challenges

Early Cape Verdean immigrants in the U.S. often joined Portuguese Catholic churches. They also started having masses in Kriolu in many Massachusetts churches. For example, St. Patrick's Church in Roxbury has held a mass in Kriolu for many years.

However, some Cape Verdean Catholics faced discrimination from Portuguese church members. This led them to look for other religious options. In New Bedford, the Cape Verdean community started their own church, Our Lady of Assumption, in 1905. This was the first Cape Verdean American church.

Turning to Protestantism

Because of the challenges they faced, many Cape Verdeans also turned to Protestantism. In Providence, the Cape Verdean community started the Shelmer Street Church in 1905. In New Bedford, some joined Nazarene churches after being rejected by Portuguese Catholics.

A famous religious leader named Daddy Grace started his first church among a Cape Verdean community in Wareham, Massachusetts. He later founded a national religious movement. Another well-known Cape Verdean Protestant leader was Reverend Peter J. Gomes.

Today, more new Cape Verdean immigrants to the U.S. identify as Protestant. This is partly because more Protestant missionaries have come to Cape Verde since its independence.

Jewish Heritage Interest

While Christianity is the main religion, some Cape Verdean Americans are interested in their possible Jewish ancestry. This "Cape Verdean Jewish Heritage movement" focuses on preserving history, like Jewish cemeteries in Cape Verde.

Since 2005, an annual Cape Verdean-Jewish Passover Seder has been held in Roxbury, Massachusetts. This event brings together Cape Verdean and Jewish Americans to celebrate both cultures. The traditional Seder includes Kriolu prayers and parts of Cape Verdean history.

Music

Cape Verdean music is a rich mix of styles. It shows influences from African, Portuguese, Caribbean, and Brazilian cultures.

Traditional and Emerging Styles

Older music styles include morna and coladeira. These songs are often slow, soulful, and a bit sad. They talk about love, longing, and missing home.

Newer forms of Cape Verdean music are funaná and batuque. These styles are fast-paced and full of percussion. They are high-energy songs often danced with hip movements. These styles were once banned but are now becoming popular again.

Cape Verdean artists are also exploring modern music styles like Hip hop, Reggae, and Zouk. These songs often have lyrics that reflect modern Cape Verdean life.

Notable People

Many people of Cape Verdean descent have become well-known in various fields. Here are some examples:

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