This weeks’ readings were by far the most interesting because of the first person point of view and narrative style of writing. Having a personal narrative story is so much more informative in an entertaining way rather than just plain facts and trends/changes about immigration. I greatly enjoyed reading Piri Thomas’s account the most because of how very descriptive and realistic the biography was.

As a response to Rebeccas question, I also agree that Orsi is a product of his environment. He was obviously just trying to fit in and and try to become an “insider.” Having and living up to a certain “reputation” is what formed the sense of community and the idea of a home that became very important and very close to his corazon.

A major trend that was in all of the readings was the idea of a home and one’s community. Like the others have said, it is highly unlikely to find such a community described in the reading today. Personally, I do not know my neighbors as well and I’m pretty sure that they would not support me like Ms. Washington did for Piri; they could care less about what is going on in my life.

This sense of community is what ties the individual back to his hometown, despite how poverty-stricken or unstable life might have been. This sense of community is the reason why immigrants formed “territories” or “blocks” dedicated to one ethnic groups. Although, life for the immigrants wasn’t what they expected of a better and satisfying life in New York, the sense of community and the love of the neighbors/the members of the community is what made an immigrants’ life worth reminiscing over.

Overall, the one quote that summarizes this and came to my mind after the reading is the one mentioned by Alexandra “you can take the soul out of Harlem, but you can never take Harlem out of the soul.”

Lastly, Maryam- WOW. That was truly amazing.