Ann Palathingal
Professor Bonastia
Reaction Paper #1
Role: Champion
The New York Nobody Knows: Chapters 5,7, and 8
Chapter 5 of this book really struck me because it discussed space. Space is something really important for most New Yorkers. The neighborhoods of New York City are indeed confined as spaces that represent the people and culture of the respective area. The people, culture, and ways of life all define a neighborhood. As New Yorkers, it seems we often categorize some neighborhoods as for the rich and some others for the poor. Sometimes we may deem an area as high crime or even “off limits.” Helmreich did a great job in portraying these ways of thinking. He described the way in which an individual who may be new to an area and looks different usually would face minor hostility or awkward stares. He also discussed what certain neighborhoods are known for and how people view that idea. In terms of this course, I think this reading pertains to the course as it represents the people of New York City. With a majority of immigrants, people do have a tendency to “group” with people they have “similarities” like race or financial status with. This all also makes us realize that there may be so much to see if you walk beyond the physical spaces that you may feel you are confined to.
A unique concept that I found interesting in chapter 7 was “daygration.” It refers to when people of certain group interact with people of another group only during the day. This type of interaction occurs mainly for business reasons. The classic example would be that Chinese restaurant in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. Helmreich mentioned that this is a great way to understand a part of another culture and ethnicity even though it’s only for the day. This pertains to the course because restaurants and diners are the “staple” of life in New York City or in any place for that matter. People may travel great distances just to get a taste of some good, different food. We do more than just eat in a restaurant. We talk and share our culture and ideas. New York City and its culture as a whole are based on interactions of many kinds.
Helmreich did a favor and summed up key points of his book. One of the points that he mentioned was that immigrants shape up New York City and will continue to do so in a plethora of different ways. The immigrant “force,” as he describes it, is quite overwhelming in a good way. This is one of main points I take from this course. Immigration is what makes New York City what it was, is, and will be. Immigrants are the people of this city that reside in the neighborhoods that make it up and that is precisely why this book is appropriate for this course.
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