Admittedly, prior to these readings I’ve had a very basic understanding of immigration and its history (a somewhat shameful fact as I am a child of immigrants), so it has been intriguing to learn more about the elements of immigration’s evolution.
From its beginning, the US has discussed what the national identity should be and how it should be formed. Since becoming an American was largely a choice (not counting those who had no choice), George Washington and John Quincy Adams both expressed that becoming an American meant shedding all prior beliefs, cultures, and allegiances and choosing to join the new American race. However, citizenship was originally limited to free white males, and it is virtually impossible to completely shed one’s entire culture. There was a divide about whether one should conform to the ideals set by the Anglo-American elite, or if one should have an exchange between their native culture and American culture, ultimately contributing to the melting pot.
Today, the US continues to experience its third wave of immigration, and New York acts as a unique frontier for immigration and assimilation. Immigrants continue to come for economic opportunities, oppressive, unstable conditions in their homeland, and because “newcomers do not stand out” in New York. As of 2010, New York is 37% immigrant and 55% when the second generation of American-born children is included.
Personally, I found the discussion of the second generation most intriguing. Generally, the second generation appears to be doing well, although Kasinitz and Foner both mention that this data was taken during good economic times. The second generation is achieving higher positions in the workforce than that of their parents, but it is still unclear if they will successfully assimilate into top positions. The youth also are more comfortable with the rising multiculturalism than previous generations of American. This is most prominent in multicultural communities like Jackson Heights, Queens and Sunset Park.
However there seems to be a divide in which ethnic groups are succeeding. Large amounts of Russian Jews, the Chinese, and native whites attend Tier I schools, while large amounts of African Americans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and West Indians attend Tier IV schools. The latter groups also benefit less from the public school system and increased school choice than the former groups. What causes this divide, and does the public school system need to make changes? Is this discrepancy affected by the gap between the rich and the poor? Does it contribute to it?
As the baby boomers retire and immigration continues, mainstream multiculturalism will continue to increase affecting the workforce, politics, and society in new ways. This will once again challenge the notion of what it means to be American. It will be interesting what affects this major change will have, how the public will react, and how we continue to develop our national identity.
