Pushed past the point of exhaustion from a long, convoluted ride on the F train, and the general discomfort of being awake before 12pm on a Saturday morning, I arrived in Queens Village. This was a place I knew all too well. I could have mapped out the people, the food, and the culture with my eyes closed. I’ve lived there for 10 years after all. That being said, I would have liked to spend my Saturday morning anywhere but on the Q36 bus I’ve rode many times before. Little did I know that the conversation I would have at Victor’s Coffee Shop would not only wake me up that morning, but enlighten me on the true meaning of an immigrant’s “American dream.”
Upon entering Victor’s, the first thing I noticed was the genuine family diner atmosphere. The floors were freshly polished and chairs still remained stacked on tables to be taken down later in the day. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Victor Talavera an El Salvadoran immigrant who came to own this beautiful coffee shop and diner. Over the background noise of Colombian soccer on the TV, he recalled his entire life story openly and honestly. His story was both courageous and heartwarming. Mr. Talavera came from El Salvador in 1980 working as a dishwasher and busboy at 30 years old. He worked in this country illegally for seven years before finally obtaining his legal documents.
Little by little, I learned how to make pizza, cakes, and worked as a chef Victor Talavera
Mr. Talavera was a part of a larger influx of Hispanic immigrants to Queens Village. Remarkably, the El Salvadoran population increased from 4.2 to 26.6% from the late 1980s to 2002.This change in population came at a time of racial conflict in Queens Village. Although 1980 was post-segregation this did not quell the stigma behind the immigration of low-income minorities like Mr. Talavera. Just a decade before, coordinated efforts that discouraged the intermixing of races reached their peak. Queens Village bore the burden of “blockbusting.” Blockbusting is a term used to describe the activity of persuading homeowners that their property values will drop because minorities will be moving into the area. The realtors use this scare tactic to get the homeowners to sell their holdings before the values can drop, and as a result the realtor gains a commission. Though this practice was primarily driven by economics, it also served to secure racial boundaries. The issue, as it pertains to Queens Village, is described in a New York Times article entitled, “Queens Village Residents Seek ‘Blockbusting’ Ban,” by Elaine Barrow. The article cites the efforts of community leaders to create and maintain an integrated space despite institutional pressures. In reference to an order to stop the unscrupulous realtors, Queens Village Assemblyman John A. Esposito predicted that “if the government [didn’t] get involved and help maintain stability, the area would resegregate” (Barrow, E). Many community leaders expressed their comfort with integrated areas and contempt for such blatant measures to keep communities separated (Barrow, E).
Despite the efforts of the community in Queens Village to establish an ethnically mixed neighborhood, the incoming of minority immigrants of Hispanic and West-Indian descent was also coupled by a large decrease in the white population. As shown in the census image below, the total density of the white population clearly decreased from 1980 to 2006.
“Total Population: White Alone, 1980” Map. Social Explorer. Social Explorer, n.d. Web. Mar 27 11:56:03 EST 2016. . (based on data from U.S. Census Bureau)
“Total Population: White, 2006.” Map. Social Explorer. Social Explorer, n.d. Web. Mar 27 11:56:03 EST 2016. . (based on data from U.S. Census Bureau)
Though rich with conflict, the history of Queens Village ultimately lead it to become one of the most vibrant immigrant communities in New York City. Many immigrants came to call this small town home in the 1980s. Mr. Talavera’s determination to make America his home drove him to work towards some distant vision of the American dream. He saved for 10-15 years but never knew exactly what he wanted to do with the money. The possibility of buying a house or a car came to mind, but so did the prospect of opening his own business. While working for a large diner on 71st Avenue and Kissena Boulevard, Talavera borrowed money from friends to open a diner of his own. While in business with a friend at this new diner he “worked like a slave” (Talavera). He would only receive $700 once a month and worked all day. He eventually came to do well at this diner until 9/11 struck. Talavera recalls, “People were scared,” and suggested that 9/11 came as a turning point in his business. Business went down noticeably and he eventually sold the diner and went to look for something new to do. Exhausted from the diner business, he decided to get a truck driving license, but luck had a different plan for him. When testing for his truck license he met up with an old friend who told him about a new diner space for sale on a Jamaica Avenue corner. In light of failing the truck licensing exam, he considered the opportunity. With time he bought the new space in Queens Village at a reasonable price, renewed it and called it Victor’s Coffee Shop.
Photo Credit: Christina Marshall
This story represents the epitome of the standard perception of the American Dream. Mr. Talavera came from nothing and made himself a great success over time. A large part of living this American dream is assimilation. He remembered the effort for assimilation as a particularly difficult.
On one hand there was all the pressure to learn an entirely new language, but on the other there were forces pulling him back home. For example, at his current diner that sells mostly traditional American diner food he feels the push from fellow El Salvadorans to sell native food. This sort of cultural conflict is exactly what obscures the immigrant’s definition of “home.”
He recalled that he originally thought that he would move back to El Salvador after two years. However, after a while Mr. Talavera came to see America as his home. He said that he would not have gone back because in this country his children would have a better education and life. Mr. Talavera shows how the prospect of success in America is such a strong force that it makes us look as far forward as we can without considering looking back. Many other immigrants share in this idea that America brings more opportunity for success than their native lands. Just two blocks away from Mr. Talavera’s coffee shop, the owner of Just-Oz Electronics shared the same sentiment. While choosing to remain anonymous, he said “[In Haiti] there were no basic rights. The government would just take.” He suggests that in America citizens have a stronger voice than citizens in Haiti. Even when things were difficult in the United States this storeowner never considered returning because conditions here were much better here.
Mr. Talavera seemed very happy reminiscing on his past. However, when asked where he saw himself in 5-10 years he surprisingly said, “Believe it or not, I think about selling.” Whether it was him or his wife, one of them always had to be there to run the diner. He sees himself working diligently, but not in a profession as stressful as the restaurant business. Mr. Talavera loves New York, but sees himself going away to live a different lifestyle.
Mr. Talavera’s account of his time in Queens Village brings up interesting ideas about what it means to attain the American Dream. On one hand we can view Mr. Talavera’s journey as a typical movie-made storyline. He came here with almost nothing and achieved his goals with hard work and a little bit of luck. However, one can argue that pursuit of the American Dream is not the romanticized black and white drama we imagine. To see this, we need to look more deeply at the story Mr. Talavera told. He underwent trials of language and cultural assimilation as well as losing his business and valuable investments. He did this all in aspiration for a future that may not have come true. Finally, once he had a business to call his own he was still forced to work long hours to secure the future of his family. This path contrasts the standard view of the American dream because it highlights the strife that comes with pursuing a future is seemingly out of reach. It also shows that achievement does not always lead us to live lavish lifestyles. Once the main goal is identified and obtained, we must continue to work, as Victor Talavera plans to do after retirement. People pursue the uncertain path that some believe to be a “dream,” but in many ways it is anything but a dream. Instead, the pursuit of the American fairytale causes us to face the reality of personal, monetary, and social conflicts. The “dream” pursuit tests how we respond to this reality. If we come through it, satisfied with the outcome, we have succeeded. Only then are we free to take our lives somewhere else and continue to dream, as Victor Talavera plans to do in the near future.
References:
Barrow, E. (1973, Dec 09). Queens village residents seek ‘blockbusting’ ban. New York Times
(1923-Current File) Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/119752762?accountid=27495
Explore Maps. Retrieved May 01, 2016, from
http://www.socialexplorer.com/explore/maps
Holloway, L. (1995, October 22). U.S. Is Investigating Charges of Blockbusting.
Retrieved May 01, 2016, from
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/22/nyregion/us-is-investigating-charges-of-block
Infoshare Online.. Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://www.infoshare.org/main/public.aspx
