New York, NY —

The story of Dominicans in America is the story of Dominicans in New York. The largest concentration of Dominicans is here, more than half a million in 2000, and one out of every three live in Manhattan. What drew them to this country, and, to the city? For many it was a combination of economic need and political turmoil at home.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to the DR to help stop a popular uprising that supported the reinstatement of a democratically-elected president. This military action changed the political direction of the Carribean country, and prompted many Dominicans -- including some who fought against American troops -- to move to the US.

The impact of those early immigrants continues today as reporter Diego Graglia tells us as part of our occasional series, Feet In Two Worlds.

Feet in Two Worlds is a project of the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, linking public radio and ethnic media, and reporting on New York’s immigrant communities.