Friday, April 29, 2011
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH - Asian-Latin Americans
Asians in Latin America have a long established history, one that began since the 16th century when Filipinos and other Asians came as migrant workers, indentured labourers, and ‘coolies’ to work on plantations. The first major wave of immigration in the late 19th century has integrated into Latin American societies, adding to the rich cultures, histories, and traditions. Many countries in Latin America have sizeable Asian communities, with the Chinese and Japanese being the most prominent groups and smaller groups of Taiwanese and Koreans. Today, there are over 4.5 million people of Asian descent living in various countries in Latin America, with significant communities in Brazil, Peru, Panama, Argentina, Cuba, and Mexico.