Black Is the Color of the Cosmos or “Callaloo” and the Cultures of the Diaspora Now by Wilson and Colly looks at the term “diaspora” and its use with relations to black history. Specifically, this writing focuses on Callaloo a journal under the supervision of Charles Rowell that has documented the “broadening” scope of Diasporic journalism. The concept of Diaspora “interrogates blackness as an intricate confluence of multiple histories and cultures.” Two historical events that engender the modern Diaspora are the African slave trade and colonialism. The aftermath of these events drives the concept of African Diaspora. However, Callaloo and other journals question why hang on to the idea of Diaspora? Is the concept a necessity to the identity of blacks? The author of the article argues yes, stating that all the identifications of Diaspora apply to many modern black populations, specifically the ideas of dispersals from homeland, integration into the new location, and a desire to return home. However, there must be discernment between the numbers that occupy the Diaspora. For example, US born blacks and African exiles to the US have a different idea of what their homeland is. Furthermore, Diaspora is a necessary as a position of political existence and a location of “cultural belonging.” Modern Diaspora has changed however, for writers argue that Africa is no loner the center of the concept considering the vast dispersal of black population around the world. Finally, Diaspora should not be linked to colonial regimes in Africa, or more significantly in the Caribbean, where a focus on colonial regimes will overlook the multitude of interactions between the islands’ diverse black populations.
From Immigrant to Transmigrant:Theorizing Transnational Migration a study by Schiller et al focuses on the reasons behind transnational migrations from the Caribbean to the United States. Previously, researches have labeled immigrants as people who uproot themselves from their homes and move to another locality where they struggle to integrate into the new society. However, there is a new kind of immigrant today: a transmigrant. Transmigrants “are immigrants whose daily lives depend on multiple and constant interconnections across international borders and whose public identities are configured in relationship to more than one nation-state.” These transmigrants are involved in their new countries economy and politics, but at the same time are “engaged elsewhere in the sense that they
maintain connections, build institutions, conduct transactions, and influence local and national events in the countries from which they emigrated.” Researches are seeking to reframe the concept of immigrants to include transmigrants and then assess the debate of immigrants in American politics. The study presented three vignettes that highlighted the need to redefine the view of transmigration. Previously, the word “transnational” has been used in economics to identify corporations with bases in multiple countries. Now, the adjective is being used to describe processes of “broader phenomenon of globalization.” Also, there has been renewed interest in the flow of culture through borders and the deterioration of cultural boundaries.
The article accounts three reasons for transnational migration: the deterioration of employment in labor sending and labor receiving countries, racism that leads to social and political insecurity, and the nation building projects of the home society create loyalties with the immigrants. Furthermore, capitalism has changed so that there are no longer investments in entire countries, but rather in specific cities for the purpose of certain profits and lower taxes. These cities act as magnets to immigrants, but once there, immigrants will most likely lack a secure position and experience racism. These leads to an immigrant base that is disloyal to the nation state and leads to a dispersed populace.
The article notes a problem with the history of migrants in the U.S.. It suggests that past immigrants, whether it was jews, palestinians, or italians, all maintained connection with the home land through letters or money for example. However, this fact was disrupted by an idea that all immigrants who came to the U.S. were uprooted and that they either completely assimilated or joined the American melting pot. No where however, was there seen the actual truth that immigrants continued to maintain strong ties with their homeland. A study was undertaken by Carnegie corporation in in the World War to assure the allegiance of settled immigrants. It found that most immigrants maintained ties with their homeland. However, reports continued to suggest that immigrants were completely loyal to the United States. Today however, there is a revision of this idea with the exposure of the actual findings of the study.
Maintaining transnational ties has allowed a series of things for immigrants. These include immigrants having their children cared for by kin, and yet act in key decisions as well as purchase property and build homes and businesses in their homeland. These ideas however are not yet acknowledged by many anthropologists. Schiller believes having a stronger understanding of the lives these immigrants live across multiple borders will aid researchers in immigrant studies.
The process of settlement for these transnational immigrants focuses on family strategies that and networks across political and economic borders that ensures a household maintains its resources and social positions. An example include a Caribbean family with two acres of land and children who couldn’t find work. Those children migrated to another country where they temporarily settled and worked to support the family back at home. The family was spread across multiple countries, but it still maintained a strong connection and monetary support between the siblings. Another example was a Philippine family whose parents risked moving to America and leaving their children behind in school. The children moved back and forth between countries for jobs and schooling through their parents support, after which the children began supporting their parents who continue to live in the Queens. The article also mentioned Haitian families who maintain family visits for the purpose of maintaining small stores and business through stock brought in luggage. Furthermore, transmigrant families would maintain businesses across borders with family members working in different countries receiving and selling goods from one another. These small businesses can turn into massive companies as seen by the Philippine shipping businesses. Transmigrants might also use organization that link different populations in different populations. These associations facilitate the movement of immigrants into new countries as well build strong transnational interconnections. The examples given were that of massive Philippine and Haitian transnational organizations. Furthermore, these organizations connect immigrants with the politics of their home country where the immigrants continue to have a strong voice. Such activities are “spearheaded” by immigrant leaders in the U.S. that maintain connection with leaders in the homeland. Not only do these organizations hold power in the home country, but also in the U.S. as we learned in class with the Caribbean organizations.
