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To my dear friend Agusto Santos de Pina: The Cape Verdean community at the turn of the century had problems with language, health, work, housing, law and a variety of lesser concerns such as the availability of certain foods and herbal medicines that they were familar with.  It was of great concern how to contact love ones here in the United States and in the Cape Verde Islands. These, and other problems, were the reasons for the forming of The "Cape Verdean Clubs" These clubs became the clearing houses for everything under the sun concering Cape Verdeans.  A person in Port Chester NY (belonging to that club) going to New Bedford Ma, would take with him news of and for friends and family or inquiries as to the where abouts of certain folks.  He would carry letters from one club to another announcing a wedding, christning, death or other news of importance or intrest and the latest gossip. When the immigrants started raising families, school problems were brought to the clubs along with citizenship, purchase of property and the list goes on. The clubs were a place where they could go and get an answer to a question or a solution to a problem. This was a place where they would not be intimidated.  The club was where there were others like themselves, a place where they felt confortable being themselves, a place where their language was not a liability and they themselves were an asset. They arrived in America with their culture, traditions, religion and values and from time to time they clashed with local cultural and social structure and the bridge between the two was the "Cape Verdean clubs".  They served the Cape Verdean community and non Cape Verdean community where ever they were.  Read Inocencio's E-Mail "Tell Some One", read your own E- Mail" Francisco". The hundreds the thousands of men, women and children who ventured to cross the ocean to America.  Some perished in their attempt, most succeded.  They are our role models. Those of us who were so fortunate to have known them, they occupy a very special place in our hearts and so much of our thoughts and memories.  They formed the "Cape Verdean Clubs" to help one another cope and servive. . THEY WERE THEIR BROTHERS KEEPERS. . Your friend,  Manny Gomes.

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