I felt that this week’s readings fit perfectly after our trip to Jackson Heights last week.
I think the greatest thing I learned from the trip was that Jackson Heights is a lot more racially mixed than I thought it was; we saw Indian, Spanish, and even Korean influences in the neighborhood. This same idea was reflected in this week’s readings. Sanjek uses Corona as a classic example of such a neighborhood, and Rogers discusses how Afro-Carribean immigrants do not necessarily move to African American neighborhoods. This, in turn, leads to the development of multiracial neighborhoods, particularly in Queens, as described by Sanjek. Isn’t that exactly why the seminar 3 classes are visiting the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and Corona?
I think this is a great, meaningful contrast to the Asian mindset we read about in previous weeks. While many Asians move to a local Chinatown (in Manhattan, in Flushing, in Sunset Park) and remain there for the rest of their lives, the fact that certain West Indies and Afro-Carribean immigrants are not necessarily going to where they would be most comfortable is great. This increase of diversity is good for the social environment of cities, and I think should be adopted in cities other than New York City. NYC has always been known for its diversity, and consequently, its greater tolerance for racial groups, specifically minorities. If other cities such as Chicago (which historically was a very racist city) encouraged such settling by minority groups as well, this could be a great way to increase tolerance and acceptance.
Immigrants moving to neighborhoods that are not necessarily where the majority of their racial group exist is (and thereby develop multiracial neighborhoods), I believe, a great trend in New York City life. Foner mentions that there was a prejudice against Italians and Jews in the early 20th century, when they first moved into the United States. While this same prejudice may now be present against minority groups such as the Afro-Carribeans, I believe that such prejudice, with time, will dissolve away, as it mostly did with the Jews and Italians. Moving out of the comfortable neighborhoods and into more multiracial ones is a scary move, and can be risky, but it’s a way we could extend tolerance, hopefully beyond the limits of NYC.
