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Southern Anthropologist

Abstract

Diasporas are fluid cultural constructs that foster identity, community, and connections over time, distance, and social space. This study explores a derivative secondary diaspora to illustrate how and why diasporas are interesting social phenomena established out of complex socio-cultural, economic, and political conditions. Outside of the large Cape Verdean diaspora of New England, relatively little is known about other U.S. Cape Verdean communities. How do they maintain ties to both the primary diaspora in New England and their Cape Verdean homeland? This research examines second and third wave moves that push and pull individuals and families beyond established diasporic communities. Research on secondary diasporas is important in immigration studies in order to better understand dispersal patterns and the unique challenges facing these communities. Ethnographic methods including participant observation, informal interviews, and online surveys were used in this pilot study to identify themes related to the diaspora of Cape Verdeans of Atlanta. Our preliminary results show that a derivative Cape Verdean diaspora is found in the southeastern United States, one that both retains many of the defining features of the sending diaspora while exhibiting unique characteristics. This study informs chain migration, community development, and diaspora studies discourse by providing insights into community maintenance for a peripheral diaspora community.

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