Week 9
Herman emphasizes several factors that contribute to the phases of ethnic succession. First, “territorial entities” are discusses. Natural boundaries between different ethnic groups form as immigrants cluster together in mini-enclaves in order to make their immigrant experience comfortable and an easier transition. A greater number of people of a certain culture creates tension by causing fear and a sense of uneasiness in the natives, especially if the number is growing. Herman also implies that the process of ethnic succession leads to more ethnic succession as tensions grow and the cycle repeats as the sense of competition arises and intensifies. In addition, any sudden change can lead to a quick conflict. In instances of gradual changes in a community, the tension exhibited is less violent. Finally, there are the obvious physical and class differences between the immigrants and the natives. Skin color and accents angered natives and an encounter could trigger a fight. Also, the relative performance of an ethnic group in a business or local industry affected their perception by the natives.
In New York City, the only types of ethnic tensions I have seen are indirect. A white person would mention feeling uncomfortable waiting in a subway station anywhere in East New York or deep in Harlem. The tension lies more in discomfort than in snide comments and physical fight outbreaks. The neighborhoods I have lived in and visited and the schools I have gone to have been diverse enough in terms of race and ethnicity as well as culture and generational Americans to be accepting. The only differences shine through in stereotypes and jokes that are taken seriously by few.
Anbinder describes in great detail the sequence of events of many riots and their leading causes and effects. In Five Points, the minority skin color was singled out of a church community. Also, it is mentioned that the white natives wanted to control the African American economy after becoming angered at their economic independence. The Irish were angered by exclusive social behaviors of the natives, for example in their military groups. Forming their own, they now proved to be a physical threat to Five Points. Anbinder documents a fair number of brawls that begin with a simple comment or insult made in passing. Members of the same ethnicity clustered together so tightly that mini-enclaves would exist in single buildings or one side of the street. This strict division line provided an imminent unsteadiness. Political legislation was passed that took away from an ethnic culture, provoking violence. As the sale of alcoholic beverages were limited, “new laws part of a nativist plot against the Irish” proved that the Irish were not trusted. The giving of jail sentences and verdicts to various townspeople showed the obvious “selective prosecution and prejudice.”
The visual depictions of riots in Five Points were accurately represented by the scenes of Gangs of New York. Richard Quinn describes smashed windows, which happens many times in the film as people jump through or buildings are demolished. The police attempt to defend the area while all hell breaks loose. More weapons are seen in the movie (guns, knives, etc.) whereas the passages describe use of rocks and bricks and city materials to fight. Otherwise, the film in pairing with the Anbinder passage gave me a clear understanding of how violent these times really were and how the immigrants were swayed and came to play a significant role in ethnic succession and ethnic tensions.
– Lucy Snyder
