The city of Brockton, MA, otherwise known as the city of champions, a slogan that originated in honor of the late boxer Rocky Marciano has proven to be a very promising metropolis for Cape Verdeans. The inspiring successful life stories of Maria Monteiro, a Cape Verdean native from the island of Fogo, and a successful real estate entrepreneur, who relocated to the city of Brockton at the age of 23 with $65 dollars to her name and virtually no English skills is one compelling example. Maria Monteiro now owns several homes throughout the city of Brockton.

A life story to behold

When the infamous "white flight" was underway in the late 70's and 80's, Maria Monteiro saw an opportunity to capitalize on the the unfounded fears
of others. Where others saw hopelessness, Maria saw hope, thus further exemplifying the Cape Verdean spirit of speransa. Maria purchased one "white flight" home after the other and turned them into viable rental units. That business decision proved to have been a very wise one, in retrospect, she now says.

There are many Maria Monteiros in the city of Brockton. Cape Verdean owned homes and businesses are everywhere in the birth city of Rocky Marciano. Business, political, and social pundits in the City of Brockton are all aware of the entrepreneurial finesse of Cape Verdeans. And they give the said Cape Verdeans accolades for their contribution to the fiscal, that is, revenue well-being of the city of Brockton.

Inspiring rags to riches stories

The stories of Brockton Cape Verdean men and women who have made good living for themselves in the realm of real estate and small business ownership, are cases to behold. After all, such successful enterprises have not materialized anywhere else where diasporic Cape Verdean communities are sizable. Not even Boston and New Bedford, two Massachusetts cities with sizable and historical Cape Verdean communities measure up to the amazing entrepreneurial accomplishments of Brockton Cape Verdeans. The homes and businesses speak for themselves.

Furthermore, on a perhaps more important note, the City of Brockton is a very promising metropolis for Cape Verdeans insofar as its political climate is favorable to Cape Verdeans. Cape Verdeans make up close to one third of Brockton's population. And the political-powers-that-be do realize this numerical significance and their actions reflect upon the numerical, and by extention the political importance of Brockton's Cape Verdeans. One example is the fact that both the former and current Mayor of Brockton have visited Cape Verde. This was done, one who conjecture, to shed light on the political relevance of the Cape Verdean community of Brockton. The former mayor knows this fact and so does the current one. Likewise, so does the current Brockton mayoral candidate, Jass Stewart (below).



Jass Stewart is an intelligent and capable friend of the Cape Verdeans. Were he to be elected next Mayor of Brockton, with the mass help of Cape Verdeans, of course, the city of Brockton will become much more of powerful magnate for Caboverdianos as Mr. Stewart, by virtue of being a very good friend of Cape Verdeans, will help turn Brockton into the truly super metropolis that it clearly has the potential to be. Nonetheless, this can only happen when Brockton registered voters of Cape Verdean descent, both Cabo Verde and U.S. born, make the right decision in the next Brockton mayoral election day electing a very dear friend of the CVs as the next Mayor of the City of Brockton.

In fact, Brockton is a strategic town for Cape Verdeans to start building strong capital and political power in Massachusetts. And from there, the model can be spread to other cities like New Bedford, Boston, Pawtucket, etc... However, let's keep in mind that we can only be successful in this endevoir if we team up with other ethnic groups like the African Americans and Latinos, especially in cities where we are don't have a majority like in Brockton.

Great observations.
But, with all the CVs in Brockton, how come Cape Verdeans don't have one candidate running for city council or other official positions? Part of building political muscle is start electing your own people to key positions. That way you can be in the group of the decision makers instead of always in the group of order followers. That's the way the Irish people and the Italians did it; and it worked for them. That's the way CVs can do it too.

Cape Verdean city council and mayoral candidates are coming, my friend. Just wait and see. CVs are maturing politically and it's only a matter of time until a city like Brockton and New Bedford elect a Cape Verdean city council president or a Mayor or a police chief. For now, we have to help elect a friend of ours, Jass Steward as the next mayor of Brockton, and then in the short future, we'll elect one of our own.