Famous Latin Americans Immigrants

Distinguished first, second and third generation immigrants from Latin America have contributed to American cultural, scientific, and political life.
Famous immigrants include:

Luis Walter Alvarez (1910-1988) became the first U.S. born Latino to win the Nobel Prize for Physics.

José Angel Gutiérrez (1944-) and others founded La Raza Unida (The United Race) the first successful third party, which is also the first Mexican American political party in Texas.

Fernando Bujones (1955-) Cuban American classical dancer who was the first American to win the gold medal at the prestigious International Ballet Competition at Varna, Bulgaria.

Oscar Hijuelos (1951-) Cuban American writer who won the 1990 Pulitzer prize in fiction for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.

Rita Moreno (1931-) Puerto Rican actress, dancer, singer, comedian who is the only entertainer in the world that has won all four awards in the show business: Oscar (1962), Grammy (1972), Tony (1975) and two Emmy's awards (1977)

Celia Cruz (1920s-) Cuban American singer and entertainer, who contributed to the popularity of Salsa in the U.S. and worldwide, awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Dr. Américo Paredes (1915-) Mexican American folklorist scholar awarded with the distinguished Charles Frankel Prize by the National Endowment for the Humanities for his long contribution to the Humanities.

César Chávez- (1927-1993) Mexican American Social Activist recognized worldwide for his commitment to workers in harvest agriculture, honored by President Bill Clinton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award.

Mariah Carey (1970-) Venezuelan American recognized as a worldwide singer and lyricist of popular music, who won Grammies as Best New Artist and Best Female Pop vocalist.

Henry Cisneros (1947-) Mexican American political leader and business man who was Secretary of Housing and Urban development in President Clinton's cabinet advocating projects to reduce suburban public housing concentration of minorities.

Oscar de la Renta (1932-) Dominican American fashion designer who was the first American selected to direct the House of Balmain in Paris.

Tito Puente (1923-2000) Puerto Rican musician, composer, timbalist and one of the pioneers of Latin Jazz who won four Grammy awards and was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for his contributions to the music world.

Mario Molina ( 1943-) Native of Mexico, researcher and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shares the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two others.

Aida Alvarez- (1950-) First Latino woman, and the first person of Puerto Rican heritage, to serve as a member of the President's Cabinet. Head of the U.S. Small Businesses Administration (SBA) in Clinton's Government.

Posted by Neide Silva