Author Archives: Bonnie Rose

There is one observation in the Butterfield piece that really struck me more than any other, and that is the assertion of one interviewed subject that the very existence of such a broad and diverse range of cultural groups in … Continue reading →

Developments in both transnationalism and education for immigrants over the past hundred years almost perfectly embodies the changing nature of the terms “Americanization”–and, to some extent, the very nature of America itself. Where immigrants were once punished for speaking their … Continue reading →

Reading “The Madonna of 115th Street”, I was honestly surprised to see how deeply the devotion ritual mirrored not only the day-to-day experiences of the immigrant population of Italian Harlem, but their emotions as well. Their march through the streets … Continue reading →

One of the most interesting things in the history of Jackson Heights is that it is there that the game Scrabble got its start. A sign on Jackson Heights’ 35th Avenue paid tribute to this until 2008, when it was … Continue reading →

The rate of robberies and muggings in Jackson Heights was not particularly high in 1993, but drug rings proliferated rapidly. The drug ring operators kept them mostly low-profile, often with the help of local businesses like travel agencies. At the … Continue reading →

Jackson Heights may have started out as an exceptionally exclusive community, but today, its population is the most varied of anywhere in New York City. The community attracts all kinds of people by combining convenience, including easy accessibility to Manhattan … Continue reading →

Population – 2010 Census Community District QU3 – Jackson Heights % Total population 170224 100.0 Race (Alone or in combination with other races) – 2010 Census Community District QU3 – Jackson Heights % White persons alone or in combination with … Continue reading →

It’s the classic American dream: Come to the US, get a job, work your way up the ranks, and become a great success story—all very rapidly. For some immigrants, this works out just fine. For others, however, it seems that … Continue reading →

Reading these articles, I was somewhat reminded of kids who create an imaginary line in the backseat of a car and force one another to stay on their own respective sides of that line. I think that in some ways, … Continue reading →

For me, the most important takeaway from these readings was a bit of a deeper understanding of just how thin line standing between a ghetto and an enclave can be. On the one hand, it is true that all the … Continue reading →