In the Hum and Devila readings, I found it quite interesting that two cultures can live together in the same neighborhood despite being very different. However, as the pieces progressed, it wasn’t hard to guess that there would be some problems between the two groups. Although it would be ideal for people to all get along and live together in harmony, I find that it’s inevitable for there to be a struggle between “us” and “them.” As humans we all tend to group together with people who are similar and because of this innate self-defense mechanism, problems often arise. People often try to protect their culture and maintain the homogeneity of their little society within America. Nevertheless, since this is America, there will always be a mixing within communities because of immigration. Hopefully, people can learn to see the diversity found here in New York City and live with it as a norm.
From the Miyares article, it was fascinating to see how the Latino subpopulations shifted over the years. For example, at first the Cuban population was once dominant, but then the Puerto Rican population started to grow and eventually took dominance. In addition to this, these groups were able to leave their mark in their neighborhoods through the incorporation of colors and symbols on into the “economic streetscape.” This is very much like the South Richmond Hill area where a lot of people from Caribbean descent live because as you walk down the streets you would be able to see Hindu Jandi flags or stores that have titles that start with “Little Guyana.” I guess it is only natural for people to try to incorporate their background into the new American culture as a way to remember their roots and contribute to the highly diverse New York City atmosphere.
