As we’ve discussed previously, a common problem in the growth (as defined in terms of capital prosperity) of immigrant or minority groups is the “slum trap.” To put it simply, many of the inherent issues of the slums (ie poor education, lack of role models, discrimination/biases) result in a crippling of opportunities for the next generation, severely undercutting their subsequent abiity to leave the slums and raise their children elsewhere.
To that end, the exploration of the experiences of the West Indians immigrants to America by Kyle Crowder is particularly striking. In essence, the reason for West Indian black communtiies to experience higher incomes and less racial segregration comes from their immigrant status in a variety of ways. Firstly, by sheer virtue of making it over (see: “selective immigration”) they tend to be more motivated and better educated. Secondly, their change from a racially smooth climate to American’s highly charged and striated communities often lead to the West Indian community’s deliberate separation from the native African-American community.
Johanna Lessinger, too, attributes the success of another minority group (Asian Indian immigrants) to their journey to America, rather than nativity. (Again, education and motivation playing major roles.)
Both Lessinger and Crowder take as status quo the staggering racism and discrimination against non-whites in America. But both also indicate a intra-group racism, spawning generally from the pursual of American success.
For example, Crowder illustrates the deliberate segregration of West Indian blacks from African-American blacks in the face of the perceived low-status and low-income attributed to African American neighborhoods and communtieies.
In a country such as America, where racism is divided most heavily on black and white lines, to create such a division inside a group perceieved externally as one whole indicates a tremendous need, stemming from discriminationalry backlash.
Lessinger, too, cites the economic success of Asian Indians as a “subtle reproach” to the other minorities seen as less successful. The Indians are seen, like the West Indians, as trying to occupy a space outside American’s “racially bipolar” environment, existing as they are in a non-white/non-black category. And, indeed, because of the black-nonsuccessful/white-successful model, Indians tend to regard their American success as proof of their “honorary white” status.
In all honestly, just typing this analysis out made me vaguely nauseas. Black and white is a terrible color scheme, a subpar cookie, and a foolish, outdated, defunct system of racial categorization.
