I think that Ellick failed because his primary reason for moving to Jackson Heights in 2006 was to experience the discreet ethnic underworlds of Queens. But in the end, Ellick sums up his encounters by saying “the only authentic experiences [he] had were acquired as [he] sat alone in half-empty ethnic restaurants.” When Ellick did have an opportunity to experience the Korean bar, he viewed dancing with a drunk Asian woman as a victory. There is not much that Ellick could have done not to appear as an outsider, seeing that he is a white man, who does white people things. It is interesting to see a white man feel like an outsider to immigrants, as immigrants are outsiders to the rest of America. One thing that he could have done differently was to have one of his friends that are not white to introduce them to these secret enclaves. It’s very difficult for people to become friends, or at least to have an open mind when they have nothing in common. By bringing a friend along, other people can use his friend as a reference point and include Ellick in some of their ethnic activities.
Ellick’s article demonstrates the mosaic model of immigration. Even though Queens is a hyper-diverse region in New York, it is still separated into distinct enclaves. When Ellick initially goes to the Irish bar, the owner of the bar promptly asked him why he had come from “Ghandiland?” There are unofficial boundaries where certain cultures congregate and live. The Irish were very persistent in holding on to the “last white stronghold” in that region. Being a first-generation immigrant has given me a unique view on how my community has developed. At home, church and other functions where I am with people of a similar ethnicity and their view is to keep each ethnicity and culture separate. They believe it is more important to associate with people of a similar background as yourself than with others. This has created some contentious moments with family and friends, as I argue that seeking out interaction with people that are different than yourself leads to growth and maturity, while solely being around people with similar backgrounds can lead to ignorance. They argue that being in a community with only people with similar backgrounds generates a certain level of homeliness and protection from assimilating too much.
