Multi-Locality

The concept of multi-locality, or also known as “bifocaility,” refers to the several relations and consciousness that an individual contains within the country of origin, and current location of a mobile migrant .Theorist and scholars, such as James Clifford, Juan Flores, and Gloria Anzaldua have applied the concept multi-locality within their books and articles to further understand the unstudied topic of Diaspora. By looking through a multi-locality lens, scholars are able to analyze the transnational economic, political and social relationships that are established “across national borders” by migrants whom come from a Diaspora, (such as the Puerto Rican, Mexican, Cuban, and Dominican Diaspora) that need to “conceptually connect oneself with others ‘there’ and ‘there,’ who share the same ‘routes’ and ‘roots.’” The transnational ties that migrants contain with several multiple locations can also be practiced for economic and political upward mobility; in the hopes to obtain the financial resources from the host country, and come back to the country of origin.

It is important to note that there has been increase in interconnectivity between the multi-localities, during the rise of globalization in the 20th and leading onto 21st century. The increase in interconnectivity has been caused by the technological advances that has allowed economic and social goods accessible and exchangeable across national borders. But also, in a global context, the technological advances has also “suppressed time and space,” by reducing the distance between the two localities of the mobile migrant, and the time that it is take to travel there through aircraft and communications (Skype, Aim, Gmail).These advances contributed to the foundation of multi-localities because “People can actually live in two places at the same time because travel has become easier” in leading onto the relevancy in studying the multiplicity of a Diaspora. For example, Puerto Ricans who travel back and forth from New York through the transportation of flight travel, have both established a sense and consciousness of multi-localities in the us and Caribbean. This back circular migration strengthen the connection of establish in both locations, but would be weaken without the advancement of technological advancement of transportation.

Multi-Locality between New York and Puerto Rico

Looking closely at the relationship between Puerto Rico and New York, in response to the large Puerto Rican population that inhabit the region, we are able to determine that there is a strong sense of multi-locality in relation to the both locations. There has a precedent of Puerto Rican natives that has established during the early 20th century through the Jones act, that has allow Puerto Ricans to come to the United States and return back to their home country. Through the circular migration, Puerto Ricans strengthen their ties and connections between the two regions, creating new cultures through the process. Puerto Ricans who travel to New York, have often embraced the roots of the African America culture and melodies of hip hop, that they bring to Puerto Rico. The cause of bringing cultures those are foreign to the Puero Rican, mesh, with the Latin melodies and rhythms of the smooth Latin music.The effect that the hybrid of latin and hip rhythems creates a transnational relationship that can be seen in the song by Calle 13, a Puerto Rican hip hop rapper, that discusses his story of dreaming to move to the “north” in his song “El Norte” because of the instabilities within his country. Although Calle 13 establishes and creates an ideal image of the “North,” many Puerto Ricans who are well established in the United States idealized images of back home, who feel culturally connected to their homeland such as the Organization of Puerto Rican Artist (O.P Art). O.P Art feel culturally connected to their homeland of Puerto Rico through the artistic work of idealized images back home, or produce music (such as Ivy Queen) and films to encourage the Puerto Rican youth with a sense of Latin idenitity. This back and forth creates an awkward relationship, but is the essence of multi-locality. The conscious that Puerto Ricans natives and Puerto Ricans that live in the US, create a multiple sense of thinking between several locations.Looking closely at the relationship between Puerto Rico and New York, in response to the large Puerto Rican population that inhabit the region, we are able to determine that there is a strong sense of multi-locality in relation to the both locations. There has a precedent of Puerto Rican natives that has established during the early 20th century through the Jones act, that has allow Puerto Ricans to come to the United States and return back to their home country. Through the circular migration, Puerto Ricans strengthen their ties and connections between the two regions, creating new cultures through the process. Puerto Ricans who travel to New York, have often embraced the roots of the African America culture and melodies of hip hop, that they bring to Puerto Rico. The cause of bringing cultures those are foreign to the Puero Rican, mesh, with the Latin melodies and rhythms of the smooth Latin music. The effect that the hybrid of latin and hip rhythems creates a transnational relationship that can be seen in the song by Calle 13, a Puerto Rican hip hop rapper, that discusses his story of dreaming to move to the “north” in his song “El Norte” because of the instabilities within his country. Although Calle 13 establishes and creates an ideal image of the “North,” many Puerto Ricans who are well established in the United States idealized images of back home, who feel culturally connected to their homeland such as the Organization of Puerto Rican Artist (O.P Art). O.P Art feel culturally connected to their homeland of Puerto Rico through the artistic work of idealized images back home, or produce music (such as Ivy Queen) and films to encourage the Puerto Rican youth with a sense of Latin idenitity. This back and forth creates an awkward relationship, but is the essence of multi-locality. The conscious that Puerto Ricans natives and Puerto Ricans that live in the US, create a multiple sense of thinking between several locations.

Local/Hemispheric Multi-locality

In 1974, RobertoVargas co-founded the “Gaceta Sandinista” a Spanish newspaper dedicated to covering the struggle in Nicaragua (220). The newspaper published in the Bay area provided information that would have been impossibly accessible in Nicaragua without serious repercussions from the government. Poets, activists and soldiers showed the FSLN support and did their best to participate in the struggle. Activist actions in San Francisco motivated activists in the home country and which had them going on about the injustices the Nicaraguan government had placed upon their people (223). Soon after in 1979, the FSLN took over Managua Nicaragua, the capital city. The group in San Francisco also produced a newspaper that made the social injustices in Nicaragua more known. The information was accessible to many people through newspaper in the states that resulted in a change in policies in Nicaragua.

After the assassination of Augusto Sandino, many Nicaraguan’s fled the country, which brought hundreds of mobile migrants to the mission district in San Francisco (214). At the mission, many found others struggling with the same issues which motivated them to organize a long list of intersecting events such as poetry readings, rallies and demonstrations that were all in support of the revolution in Nicaragua. This movement of migrants between Nicaragua and the United States demonstrates the awareness of problems that arose in their host country. As a result of the social injustices back home, Nicaraguans organized in San Francisco making their existence multi-local. While living in their host country, migrants were conscious of political, economic, and social issues in their home country. Multi-locality is more than a concrete concept but more the idea and the awareness of being connected to multiple locations. Nicaraguan protesters in San Francisco is an example of multi-locality because it points out how migrants who live in San Francisco still associate with Nicaragua. It is important to remember that multi-locality is a main component to the understanding of Diaspora.