Uli Neves

Brazilian Immigration to Colorado: Oral History and Mobile Lives

Immigration is the international process of individuals moving to a new country other than that of their birth. The United States is a country founded by immigrants, and throughout its history, it has become home to people from all corners of the world which brings its immigrant population to a number close to 46.2 million people [1]. Among these immigrants, there are estimated to be 499,272 from Brazil [2]. Brazilian Immigration to Colorado: Oral History and Mobile Lives investigates the different reasons behind Brazilians’ immigration process specifically to the state of Colorado where the research is being conducted. Are the reasons political, economic, cultural or are there other hidden factors that haven’t been investigated yet?

By using primary and secondary sources with a focus on interviews, I address these questions by providing insights into Brazilian perceptions, motivations, and experiences which can inform the public about aspects of immigration, but can also be a window for other cultural groups to search for similarities or differences to their own immigration experiences. The main intention of this exhibition is to examine if their expectations have changed or not once they arrived and established a life in Colorado which is closely investigated based on their oral histories. While the quotes extracted from their interviews are the most objective way to inform their narratives, the images also play an important role as a way to peak into their lives and understand their experiences here in Colorado.

1 Steven A. Camarota and Karen Zeigler, “Immigrant Population Hits Record 46.2 Million in November 2021.” Center for Immigration Studies. December 20, 2021. https://cis.org/Camarota/Immigrant-Population-Hits-Record-462-Million-November-2021

2 "B04006 - PEOPLE REPORTING ANCESTRY - United States - 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2019. https://data.census.gov/ cedsci/table?q=ACSDT1Y2019.B04006&tid=ACSDT1Y2019.B04006&hidePreview=true