In her comparison of the ‘Great Wave’ of immigration at the turn of 20th century and the current period of immigration New York is experiencing, Nancy Foner highlights the different settlement patterns of the two groups while also making note of the repetition of certain tendencies. Over the last century, immigrants have been making their way out of the city and into the the surrounding boroughs and in some cases beyond. Instead of settling in slums – what was quickly becoming the only available space in the city, immigrants were venturing out in hopes of better living conditions. The change this overall shift has created is significant. It seems as if the different neighborhoods of the surrounding boroughs are always in a state of gradual flux. Similar to how the Italians and Jews journeyed towards Suburbia which at the time were remote areas of Queens and Brooklyn, today’s immigrants are bypassing residency in Manhattan and are replacing those who have left the boroughs for perhaps better areas. Only time will tell if the net wave follows suit and gradually replaces the immigrants of today.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that current immigrant groups, much like how they tended to do in the last wave are opting to live amongst their own people in the formation of ethnic enclaves. When added to the variety of different locations these groups are now settling in, Foner points out the many different ethnic flavors seen throughout the neighborhoods in New York. Zhou Min and Wei Li provided a perfect example of this point in their pieces regarding the settlement patterns of Chinese immigrants in New York.
Traditionally, Chinese immigrants to New York flocked to what is now known as the ‘Old Chinatown’ enclave in Manhattan. Now we are seeing a growing trend of their immigration to what some have described as ‘satellite’ Chinatowns; one in particular we are all familiar with: Flushing. This pattern not only fits Foner’s examination of immigrant groups branching out, but also backs-up her premise that immigrant groups continue to live amongst their own people. However, as Zhou Min and Wei Li point out, these ‘satellite’ areas may resemble the traditional Chinatown, but are different enough to warrant their own classification. The same must hold true for other cultures where this pattern applies.
