American Ethnic Studies

Ecuadorian Americans

Where Were They From:  Ecuador's geographical variety is nearly matched by its diverse migration patterns. Although it is a small Andean country of approximately 13.3 million people, Ecuadorians are one of the largest immigrant groups in metro New York and the second largest immigrant group in Spain.

When:  The population of what is now Ecuador witnessed considerable disruption between 1470 and 1540. The Inca invaded from Peru during the later half of the 15th century, and Spanish conquerors arrived in 1534. Due to the introduction of disease, abuse, and enslavement, more than 70 percent of the indigenous population died by the end of the century.

What region of the US did they settle: Estimates of Ecuadorians living outside the country vary considerably. Adding up the official numbers from top destinations outside Latin America — the United States, Spain, and Italy.
Ecuadorian emigration prior to the 1960s was minimal. A small number of people migrated to Venezuela and by the 1940s to the United States. The US Office of Immigration Statistics (part of the Department of Homeland Security) reports that 11,025 Ecuadorians received lawful permanent resident status from 1930 to 1959. By the 1960s, small communities of Ecuadorians could be found in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

What occupations did they take part in:  They developed trade routes with nearby Peru, Brazil, and Amazonian tribes. Culture continued to thrive and diversify, and by 500 BC large cities had been established along the coast. Their inhabitants had sophisticated metalworking and navigational skills and they traded with Mexico's Maya. In 1460 AD, when the Inca ruler Tupac-Yupanqui invaded from the south, three major tribes in Ecuador were powerful enough to give him a fight: the Canari, the Quitu, and the Caras.

What are the family patterns, Rituals:  As circumstances dictated, a household commonly consisted of a nuclear family--husband and wife with their unmarried children--and one or more members of the wider circle of kin. Couples often resided with the parents of one of the spouses for a period after marriage. Parents typically spent their declining years with the youngest son and his spouse, who remained at home to care for them. Although individuals owed their primary allegiance and responsibility to their families, ties extended outward from this group. The wider circle of kin offered the individual a potential source of assistance and support. Trust and responsibility flowed along the lines of kinship at each level of the social scale.

Are they a group that appreciates schooling:  Is considered as one of the most important issues. The percentage of literacy is very high is the country of Ecuador. The educational infrastructure is very strong there. There are numerous schools and colleges in Ecuador.
The educational systems in Ecuador are very strong. Students who fall under the group of five to fourteen, are supposed to attend the school everyday at any cost. To some extent the public education in Ecuador is free. However, according to the ministry of Education in Ecuador, only 10 % of the rural population attends the school level education. On the other hand, about 76 % of the total number of children in Ecuador completes their study till the class six.
What are the basic demographics today?   
In the 2001 Ecuadorian census, 377,908 people were reported to have emigrated in the previous five years (1996 to 2001). But Ecuadorian entrance and exit data suggest that since 1999, nearly a million Ecuadorians (net) left the country. Although Ecuadorian government officials have estimated that as many as 3 million Ecuadorian citizens live overseas, a recent study by the United Nations and an Ecuadorian graduate university (FLACSO) suggest that an estimate of 1.5 million is much more accurate than 3 million.

Fun Facts:  Ecuador is a very beautiful South American country, which has the equator passing through it. In the other words, it falls on both the sides of the equator. Located in the northwestern part of South America, it stands bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the west, Colombia in the north and Peru in the south and east. Forming a part of the landscape of the country are the Galápagos Islands, situated in the Pacific, which lie about 965 kilometers (600 miles) to the west of the mainland. Ecuador is one of three countries that were created in 1830, after the collapse of Gran Colombia. In the following lines, we have provided more information on Ecuador.

The official name of Ecuador is the ‘Republic of Ecuador’.
The official language of Ecuador is Spanish. However, Quechua and other indigenous languages are also widely spoken here.
Majority of the people in Ecuador are Roman Catholics.
The main ethnic groups in Ecuador include Mestizo, Amerindian, Spanish and Blacks.
The currency of Ecuador is US Dollar (US$), since January 2001.
The capital of Ecuador is Quito.

Petroleum, food processing, textiles and metal work are the main industries of Ecuador.
The second highest point in Ecuador is Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
Galapagos Islands make up the first National Park of Ecuador.
Quito is said to have the most pleasant temperature in the world and has been given the name of the “Land of Eternal Spring”.

 

 

FAMOUS People
Alejandro Carrión Aguirre - http://www.alejandrocarrion.org./
Is one of these well-known Ecuadorians famous for his journalism, poetry and the short stories that he had written. In 1981 he was recognized for his works when he received the Maria Moors Cabot prize and the Ecuadorian National Prize.

Jefferson Perez:- http://www.jeffersonperez.com/biografiai.php
He is an Ecuadorian race walker who specializes in the 20km event of Olympics. He made the Ecuadorians proud by winning two Olympic medals. He is also the proud winner of the bronze in the Junior World Cup of Athletics in Bulgaria, silver at the World Championships of Seville and many such honors in a number of competitions around the world.

Andres Gomez:- http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Go/A/Andres-Gomez.aspx
He won five doubles titles in 1980, and seven in 1981. His first top-level singles title came in 1981 in Bordeaux. In 1986, Gomez attained the World No. 1 doubles ranking. He won seven doubles events that year, including the US Open men’s doubles title.  Gomez won a second Grand Slam men’s doubles title in 1988 at the French Open.  The crowning achievement of Gomez’s career came in 1990 when he reached his first (and only) Grand Slam singles final at the French Open. There he faced 19 year-old Andre Agassi who, like Gomez, was playing in his first Grand Slam singles final. The up-and-coming American star was considered the favorite, but Gomez seized the moment and claimed the title with a four-set win (6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4). Gomez reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 later that year.

Julio Jaramillo:- http://www.batanga.com/en/artists/julio-jaramillo/bio
Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido was a notable Ecuadorian "Pasillo" performer. Jaramillo performed throughout Latin America where he achieved fame performing and recording boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos and rancheras. He recorded more than 4,000 songs in total.