Author Archives: slsimon

We see this compromise between use value and exchange value in almost any transaction we make. Most often, exchange value and use value are not aligned. While use-value suggests a more Marxist concept of the value of a good (or … Continue reading →

In his brief and accessible piece, Herman lays out the framework for the “ethnic succession” model, in which one group comes into an area, competes with a former group for resources, and replaces the original group as the dominant racial/ethnic … Continue reading →

This evening on my way back from the subway I walked by a building on the corner of 22nd Street and Park Ave. It stood out to me as atypical, for it wasn’t a towering glassy skyrise or block of … Continue reading →

I found the linkage of dietary choices to assimilation discussed in Gabaccia’s article surprising and ridiculous. Cuisine is an important part of overall culture, distinct to each group of people and their traditions passed through generations. With this in mind, … Continue reading →

Gordon accepts the definition of acculturation as “those phenomena which result when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact, with subsequent changes in the original cultural patterns of either or both groups.” While this statement suggests … Continue reading →

I was excited as soon as I read the title Melting Together in Ditmas Park. As a suburban native, I’m not familiar with many neighborhoods in New York City’s outer boroughs. The extent of my urban exploration prior to moving … Continue reading →