For me, the most important takeaway from these readings was a
bit of a deeper understanding of just how thin line standing between a
ghetto and an enclave can be. On the one hand, it is true that all the
immigrant communities profiled in the readings benefited from the
insularity and support of fellow members of their own culture, as well
as representation from multiple classes, both characteristic of the
typical enclave. However, in the cases of both Chinatown and El Barrio,
marginalization and hardship drove each immigrant group into its
respective area more or less against its will, a circumstance widely
associated with the typical ghetto. Perhaps, then, the most central
deciding factor is the way that the immigrants who live in these ethnic
enclaves feel toward them, and what they make of them. The readings
seem to suggest that the residents of Spanish Harlem have taken a
greater interest in preserving the ethnic character of their community.
They are loath to see whites infringe upon their space via
gentrification of the area. The community seeks to publicize its proud
Latin heritage and demonstrate that it is there to stay, but proceeds
with caution and fear of letting the white community in to the point
that their own community becomes diluted. Though El Barrio certainly
represents struggle for them, they take pride in that struggle, and do
not want to see the cultural roots they have put down be overcome. They
have worked to turn it into a vibrant artistic community, to the extent
that they can. They thus draw strength from their community, which,
consequently, seems more aptly classified as an enclave then a ghetto.
In the case of Chinatown and its various “satellites”, things seem a
bit less clear-cut. The towns do offer immigrants the support of their
fellow countrymen. However, in the case of Chinatown itself, besides
offering positive cultural reinforcement, the enclave also offers the
lower class a limited set of opportunities and forces upon them an
attitude of acceptance. They must perpetuate negative class patterns
developed in their country of origin. In the case of Chinatown’s
satellites, tension with outsiders abounds, affecting business
prospects outside the enclave. To me, these negative factors bring these areas a bit closer to the “ghetto” side of things.