In both Henry Goldschmidt’s Race and Religion Among the Chosen People of Crown Heights, and in Robert Orsi’s The Madonna of 115th Street, there is a key idea that both of these books run by. It is the idea that religion and ethnicity are not things that “hide” themselves. Both books are based on the idea that religion in many cases is an idea that most people have a connection with. This special connection with your religion creates a strong bond which can either strengthen or deteriorate when coming to America as mentioned with the Italian American immigrants.
The Lubavitch Jewish people of Crown Heights have congregated because it is a place where most of them share the same religion and it is possible to practice their religion openly. Sometimes the problem with New York city, being so diverse, is that when your ethnicity and religion are so out in the open, you can be exposed to discrimination as seen with the Gavin Cato incident of the nineties. It is ironic that the principles in which this nation were founded upon, have led to so much strife and ethnic conflict.
The Italian American immigrants of a century ago were also like the Jewish community in Crown Heights and many other areas. They came together in one place because they had similar backgrounds. These people thought it was important to express their ethnic solidarity in the America that they immigrated to so that they could have a sense of pride within the cultural melting pot that is New York. Each year these Italians had a religious celebration which didn’t take place in their private houses, but on the streets of New York. While they were only displaying their devotion, they were still criticized by many.
All this makes us question if religion should be private or public? Should people be forced to keep their religions private, in the fear of creating more public discourse, or should people be able to practice their religion without discrimination?
