Nancy Foner’s article was interesting in that it outlined what made New York so different from other immigrant cities in the United States, such as Los Angeles. She compares the social structure of the two cities and points out how New York’s history of receiving immigrants has allowed it to develop organizations and institutions based on immigrant culture. What I found especially interesting was how she compared the nature of the flow of immigrants, which helped to construct how they were received in the city. More educated and skilled immigrants were better received.

Foner also mentions the model minority myth associated with Asians in NYC and discusses how this concept is less prevalent in cities where Southeast Asians, who may be less educated, are the majority. The myth is represented as a positive label. However, the view that Asians are a model minority group actually prevents the group from getting equal treatment when it comes to social assistance.

-Wendy Li