While reading the Chapters, one thing that really caught my attention was the difference between Caribbeans and black Americans. Often times Caribbeans were mistaken for Black Americans and treated badly. However, once it was realized that the Caribbeans were not Black Americans, they were treated differently. If a person of color was to speak other languages like Spanish indicating other places of birth, that person was treated with more respect than black Americans.
Harlem was originally a white community that saw the migration of African Americans. The African Americans living in some midtown and down town areas were forced to leave their homes due to events such as the building of Penn Station. At first white tenants and Landlords resisted the incoming of African Americans into Harlem. Ambitious real estate agents were able to convince the white tenants and landlords to allow the incoming African Americans. Church Ministers assisted in this “on to Harlem” movement.
Harlem became a desirable place for many black elites from all over the country and abroad. Then when the Caribbean immigrants started coming in, they settled in areas with African Americans. Often the Caribbean immigrants were skilled and thought of as “cultural heroes” from whom the African Americans could learn. When a Caribbean immigrant accomplished something great, they were often looked up to even by African Americans. There Street forums were also interesting.
During the building of the Panama canal, many Caribbeans went to work for meager wages. There was not enough work in the Caribbean to support all the young men and women so going away to work in the Panama canal project was a good option. The Jim Crow Law affected the Caribbeans laborers in the Panama canal Zone. The White Laborers were payed in gold and were given living accommodations while the Caribbeans and African Americans were payed in silver and were forced to find their own accommodations.
When the project was over, many Caribbeans took on other work that would either allow them to possibly have better luck to save some of their wages. Some Laborers took on jobs that would allow them to be “geographically” close to their home because they were unable to save enough money to go back home. The United States of America became an land of opportunity. However, laws that limited immigration of Caribbeans came in quickly. To get into U.S, immigrants had to go through health tests and consultations. These consultations with the consuls had to prove that the person in America who was bringing in the immigrant had financial responsibility for the immigrant. If people were caught trying to get into the U.S they were often mistreated.
This reminds me of all the immigration issues that the press often talks about. There are many people in the United States who don’t want illegal immigrants and yet at the same time, the labor of the illegal immigrants is needed. It was the same with the Caribbeans who were trying to come into the country. They were needed when there was a need for laborers but when the time came when there were many people from one area coming into the United States, then immigration was limited. The people who were trying to come here looking for opportunities were mistreated if they were found to be coming in without permission. Permission to come in was not very easily accomplished.
Chapter 3 sheds a light on the skills that many Caribbeans and African Americans had. They were not given opportunities to excel in their skills all the time. Even with an education and skill, many immigrants had no money which meant they could not afford their own housing. At this time, Harlem provided a good environment for building a community as more and more African Americans were settling here. This made Harlem a good place for the immigrants to settle in. Even though it was originally thought that Harlem could not become a place filled with black people, when many white people started moving downtown while many African Americans and Caribbeans moved into Harlem, it became possible. Churches are once again shown to play a big part in the development of Harlem. Often time when there was not enough resources to provide housing for everyone, lodging occurred which allowed people with similar skills and origins to lodge together. It became a way of life to live.
Chapter Three made me wonder if things are still like that Harlem. Even though our College is located in Harlem, I really don’t know much about Harlem because before I started college here, I have maybe come into Harlem once or twice. I have lived in Queens as long as I have been in the United States and in areas that were considered “safe.”
Also, the parts about family members bringing in their family is quite familiar because my Father was already here for over over 12 years before he brought our family here.
