The three articles read this week revolved around immigration in the United States. Specifically, the three articles focused on incoming and settled immigrants, from the past to the present, and their impact on policies, American ideology, employment, institutions, and of course culture.
The Significance of immigration in the formation of an American identity by Rudolph Vecoli discusses the journey the U.S. has underwent in forming its own distinct nationality. Vecoli states that from its beginnings, the American identity was built upon the immigrant populace, but yet for so long, America has continued to exclude immigrants from its society. The article supports the idea of an immigrant identity in the U.S. through statistics of immigrant numbers in the U.S.. At its formation, the U.S. was an amalgamation of different nationalities and races, 19% being of african ancestry, 12% western european, and 48% English. However, only “free whites” in the population were considered citizens. From 1820-1920, in three waves, 55 million people emigrated to the country as the U.S. was seen as an asylum for the oppressed due its supposed open acceptance. However, many of these immigrants, like the catholic Irish were oppressed due to their religion. Also, east asians were completely excluded from entering the country by the exclusion acts of the late 1880’s. Thus, immigrants composed a huge population of the American society, and although some nations were excluded, almost all were allowed entry. This huge immigrant population caused an issue. The hegemony of white american citizens wanted these immigrants should assimilate to the already settled American identity, and although some did, others did not. The opposers argued that to assimilate would be contradictory to the melting pot idea. As Kallen states, the U.S. was formed on immigrant populations that infused their own culture into a new American one, that included the best of countless cultures, beliefs, and customs. This was the true American Identity, as opposed to assimilating to become a WASP society.
I couldn’t agree more with Vecoli’s essay. The U.S. was founded as an immigrant society, and to oppress immigrants and force them to assimilate would be contradictory to its foundations. Immigrants should not assimilate to the white American society, but should add on to an American identity that continues to grow with every immigrant group’s contribution.
Immigrants in NYC in the New Millienium by Nancy Foner discusses how immigrants have impacted New York businesses, institutions, politics, demographics, and the population. Mainly, the essay is proving that immigrants have diversified the city and have given benefits and growth to the economy. 1 in 3 New Yorkers were immigrants or of immigrant parents in 2010. That 1 in 3 contains a multitude of nationalities, that today are much different than what they were in the past. Specifically, in the number of non-europeans that includes Caribbean islanders, Latinos, Africans, South Asians, and East Asians. These immigrant groups however do not have a foothold in the cities majority population as no one group is long dominant as was with white europeans in the past. Furthermore, these immigrants are not leaving their old country behind. Rather, they are maintaining old customs and see themselves as ethnic New Yorkers. Politically, many members of these groups have joined politics, thus diversifying the New York government. An example being John Liu from Taiwan. Immigrant groups have found job niches. For example, Caribbean islanders will most likely be found in hospital care, Korean would be found in dry cleaning, and Latinos in food service. Some immigrants have formed ethnic neighborhoods, which may seem contradictory the American ideals, but these neighborhoods are reviving areas. For example, Sunset park in Brooklyn has become a major commercial center due to Chinese and Latino influxes. Finally,immigrants have also increased public school involvement due the pursuit of the American dream.
This article was my favorite. Reading it was like justifying many of the things I have noticed through out my time in New York. Being from Brooklyn, every neighborhood I pass has an immigrant majority which infuses its culture into its surroundings. For example, I live in Bensonhurst which has a primarily Chinese area after being majorly Italian. And through that, I witness all the businesses opening and the increasing number of Chinese in schools pursuing a good future. Thus, I felt connected to the essay with my everyday life.
The last essay, The Next Generation Emerges, by Philip Kasinitz focused on the second generation of immigrations and how they are coping in the American society. Kasinitz argues, that contradictory to what is popularly thought, the second generation is doing much better than believed in terms of culture, education, and employment. Half of the young adults in NYC are either second generation immigrants or 1.5 generation immigrants. Meaning they are born elsewhere but mature in the U.S.. Kasinitz performed a study abbreviated ISGMNY that questioned 2,000 immigrants youth in various fields. The study found that the second generation is assimilating well to the American society. Almost all the second generation speaks english and has adapted to American customs. However, many continue to maintain customs and the languages they learned from their parents by choice. Kasinitz finds that the second generation seeks to be distinct from other nationalities, specifically ones that are close to their own. For example, Caribbean islander youth do not like being generalized as “black” Americans; they wanna be specifically categorized as Jamaican, Trinidadian, etc. In terms of education, immigrant children seem to be doing better than natives, specifically the Chinese and Russian. The study used a NEET(Not in education, employment, or training) to be the lowest for the Chinese and Russian and highest for immigrant latinos and Africans. However, those immigrants are still doing better than the natives. ISGMNY also found that the immigrants youth are straying away from their parents occupations and seeking high profile jobs in retail and finance. To do so, a large portion of immigrant youth are attending colleges and university, specifically CUNY. The second generation also seems to be more comfortable discussing race as opposed to their parents.
This article pertains to me the most. I am of the 1.5 generation and the ISGMNY census told the story of my life. I speak english and assimilate to the American culture, but yet I maintain my Arabic background. Furthermore, I seek to do well in school and attend CUNY in hopes of a high profile job like many of the immigrant youth.
