Un Gran Viaje: A Data Visualization of Latin American Immigration

Abstract

The story of the Latin American immigrant making their “gran viaje” or great journey to the United States transcends conversations presented in news articles and political rhetoric. Immigration trends, both past and present, reveal a rich history of social injustices, governmental instability, and civil conflict. This historical context gives life to an analytical understanding of immigration populations that are much more than numbers and statistics. In this project, we explore the connections between a series of data visualizations of Latin American immigration and the historical push-pull factors moving individuals across continents. This presentation aims to enlighten viewers to the story-telling ability of large data frames, and to the possibilities of intersecting areas of study.