Kasinitz at al talks about how the interaction between different minority groups influence the experiences of the second generation as opposed to the interaction between immigrants and white Americans. This is especially applicable to New York because it is a majority minority city. The article points out some flaws in the theory of segmented assimilation, which asserts that underlying difficulties such as poor urban schools and restricted access to employment and other opportunities, are to blame for the downward mobility of immigrants and their offspring. Kasinitz at al argues that the theory does not account for intergroup contact, conflict, discrimination as well as institutions that are made to promote minority advancement.
The article also mentions that the culture of the second generation is neither immigrant nor “middle American.” The second generation is creating a new identity that is different from both their parent’s country of origin and the culture of mainstream Americans. This makes sense because people are ultimately a product of the environment in which they live. Second generation Americans never totally experienced the environment that their parents grew up in, and while they retain some culture from their parents, it is only natural that they are also influenced by the other cultures around them as well.
The theory of segmented assimilation is too simple to provide a suitable explanation for the experiences of second-generation immigrants. It seems to promote the various stereotypes that are present in today’s society, and while there might be some truth to it, it does not satisfactorily explain the other factors that are at play, as the article states.
The article by Marcuse describes the spatial separation into ghettos, citadels, and enclaves based on social class and ethnicity. A ghetto, according to the article, is defined as a group that is separated from the economic, social and political life of the city. An enclave is separated because of ethnicity, in which the people who live there are comforted by the familiarity in culture and lifestyle. A citadel is a separation based on economic standing, where higher income people live. These separations can explain some of the difficulties of assimilation and the prevalence of some stereotypes. Each group has things in common with one another but they are fundamentally different. These groupings have a huge effect on public policy and are counterproductive to integration.
