From this reading, it is clear that in early twentieth century Harlem, the relationship between immigrant blacks and ones born in the United States was one of much tension. This type of relationship seems strange at first glance, as both groups shared many of the same struggles, and were undeniably at a disadvantage when compared with their white counterparts. Their dislike and distrust of each other seemingly came from the way each group was treated by the white majority, but these groups had prejudices against each other that enhanced these negative feelings.
Chapter 1 of Blood Relations explains the monumental transformation that Harlem went through in the turn of the twentieth century. Previously, this land had been settled almost exclusively by whites, and a virulent reluctance to let blacks into the area existed. However, after pressure from elite blacks, especially real-estate agent Phillip Payton, blacks were able to populate the area, and movements were even created to encourage this. By 1915, the area was even populated by immigrants from across the Caribbean. These immigrants were seen by the black community as people to emulate and look up to, mostly because of their “thrift, hard work, and independence” (3). By 1925, though, there were growing sentiments amongst Caribbean immigrants that they were being forced into black Harlem, unable to form neighborhoods of their own. It was around this time that there became a noticeable difference in the reception of native black Americans and those who were foreign. In the reading, multiple instances of such unequal treatment were provided.
Chapter 2 discusses the reasons why immigrants decided to make the move to the United States. After Caribbean communities had been established, it made for strong ties between immigrants, and their family and friends who were still at home. A result of this is that it became easier for more Caribbeans still at home to make the move, as they were able to move in with family and friends who lived in Harlem or other Caribbean neighborhoods. While they had high hopes for coming to the United States, that their quality of life would improve, they were met with scarce employment opportunities once they arrived, and the journey was difficult and expensive. Caribbeans avoided most of the south because of the alleged hostility to people of color. The difficulty of immigration was also extended by the policy of disease checks at places like Ellis Island, and the requirement that immigrants from the Caribbean must have financially stable family members who currently lived in the United States in order to successfully move in.
Finally, in Chapter 3, Blood Relations covers, more specifically, the movement of both native and foreign born blacks into Harlem. This phenomenon was known as the “On to Harlem” movement, which was started by preachers and assisted by large real estate acquisitions by various churches and Caribbean benevolent fundsc. This allowed many elite members of the black community to move uptown into what was considered by many to be some of the nicest real-estate in Manhattan. Eventually, whites in Harlem were ultimately pushed out of the area as a result of their refusal to coexist with blacks. When these whites moved out, more blacks were able to move in at cheaper prices and eventually the entire area became an almost entirely black neighborhood.
What I found most surprising from this reading was how differently foreign blacks were treated from native ones. It was mentioned in maybe a sentence or two in the reading, but it seemed that native African Americans had been placed in their own social caste, and had been, against their will, placed into second-class citizenry. When new blacks who hadn’t been so disadvantaged entered the United States, they spoke many languages and had more education. This enabled them to distance themselves from the African Americans, even though they shared the same skin color. I can only wonder why such treatment was deserved.
