Author Archives: Sara Wertenteil

In her article, McAllister deals with the similarities and differences between the Italians that populated east Harlem and the more recent Haitian inhabitants. On one hand, she notes that both Italians and Haitians were emigrating in order to escape the … Continue reading →

After reading the final chapters of The Madonna of 115th Street, I feel like I have gained a better understanding of the culture and devotion in Italian Harlem. Orsi skillfully wraps up the intense subject of the faith in Italian … Continue reading →

As I was reading through the material, what struck me was the complexity and utter chaos that characterize the lives of women of all ages in the domus. In Orsi’s words, “the power of the women is their powerlessness.” I … Continue reading →

I will be speaking more in depth about this reading tomorrow, but I want to mention a few points. What I found most interesting about the entire domus-centered society of Italian Harlem is the quiet struggle raging just beneath the … Continue reading →

The opening chapter of The Madonna of 115th Street gives the reader a fairly rich and comprehensive overview of the origins of Italian Harlem. It was a place that its residents had come to love despite its shortcomings. I find … Continue reading →

As I was reading Chapter two in From Ellis Island to JFK, I came across the section about old ethnic neighborhoods. One point that piqued my interest was Foner’s claim that slums actually provided some benefits, as unlikely as it … Continue reading →