Immigration, Race, and Ethnicity in America - Case Study Example

Order 527398 Anthropology The book “Origins and Destinies: Immigration, Race, and Ethnicity in America" by Silvia Pedroza and Ruben Rumbaut is an anthology that highlights four important waves of immigration to USA-- European, Latin American, Asian, and African. The existing immigrants in America and those arriving now relate to diverse types of migrations in different types of cultural and social contexts. Each immigration wave brought distinct races, ethnicities and national groups. The immigration periods can broadly be classified as the colonial period, the mid-nineteenth century, the beginning of the twentieth century and post-1965. The authors (1995, p.1) write, “Immigration is the very core of American society; with the exception of the Native Americans, every American is an immigrant.” The authors further opine, “This large presence of immigrants in our midst can easily give rise to strong expressions of nativism, especially when people are faced with deteriorating economic conditions.”(p.2) On the basis of information provided in the movie/video that I viewed as for the migration of Hmong and the pattern of migration of people of many nationalities to New York City/State, the summing up of the issues are as under: Hmong: Hmong are mainly from Laos, where they are an ethnic minority group. Their influx into USA was due to the American Cold War policies in Laos. Majority of the 200,000 Hmong refugees found their destination to USA. The pattern of migration was not due to economic reasons, but the political development in Laos. Hmong immigrants were mostly settled in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California. To halt the communist takeover in Indochina, USA conducted a ground operation in Laos and the Hmong ethnic community sided with USA. In May 1975, when communist takeover was imminent, evacuation of the Hmong into Thailand began. The first batch of 3500 Hmong arrived in USA in December 1975 and by 2000, more than 100,000 had immigrated and resettled. Most of them arrived in USA due to duress and to escape harassment at the hands of the Communist regime. Assimilation in the American society was a tall order for them. Most of them were farmers in their country and to adjust into a capitalist society was a tough call in the initial stages. Hmong cultural values clash with that of Americans. A good number of Hmong youth have taken to criminality and to gang life. Notwithstanding all these challenges Hmong ethnic group as a whole looks forward to a bright future in the land of their immigration. New York – The Worlds City The City of New York has always been in the limelight for one reason or the other, even before USA formally emerged as an independent Nation. It was the important entry point for the Europeans since 1880s. About 20 million immigrants had reached the point of their first landing Ellis Island till the early 20th century. The European immigration continued unabated during the 18th and 19th centuries. An acute condition of the agricultural products known as potato famine in Ireland was the cause of the first wave of immigrants from Ireland who arrived in 1840s. During this period German immigration also began and gradually increased. They settled in Rochester and Buffalo. European immigration picked up momentum and Eastern European Jews and Italians followed suit. This was in 1880s by which time the number of German speaking Jew immigrants in New York was 80,000. By 1920, it had risen to 2,000,000. Italian immigrants began arriving in 1800s. By 1950, their number had increased to 500,000 including the city and the state. The New York City was like the transit centre. As soon as one wave of immigrants dispersed to other areas, a new wave arrived. Yankees from New England were in the forefront as for migration and most of those arriving in 1790 to 1840 in New York were from this country. The Chinese first entered America in 1849.They came as laborers, seeking employment. They arrived in San Francisco. The Chinese suffered immense discrimination as American workers felt insecurity by the low emoluments the Chinese were willing to accept. Internal conditions in USA also contributed to mass migration of black people to New York. Before the Civil War, the migration was a slow process, but during World War I massive migration of black population to New York took place in 1960. The process of migration gathered momentum and by 1960, about 600,000 Puerto Rican birth parentages had migrated to New York. Next to follow were Dominicans, Haitians and Jamaicans. By 1960, the New York City began to experience the reverse swing, and outward migration began mainly due to economic reasons, better infrastructure facilities made available in the suburbs and the neighboring states. In 1970-1980s, about 1,500,000 migrated out of the city/state. This domestic migration was the new trend due to technological advances happening all over the country and preference of the industrial establishments to move to the countryside, leaving the thickly populated and congested metropolitan areas. Blacks comprised about 20% of the New York City total population. The articles mentioned below give the outlines about the overall issues related to migration to USA and the current problems the country is facing: Erin’c children in America: Three centuries of Irish Immigration to the United States: One fifth of all Americans, are of whole or partial Irish ancestry. Ireland is Europe’s migration--prone country for over two centuries, and the reasons for immigrations were mainly economic. Italian Americans: A century of Ethnic Change: The greatest surge of Italian immigration took place in 1880-1914. The then Italian governments encouraged the poor peasants of the country to immigrate to combat economic pressure in the southern part of the Italy. Mostly unskilled laborers immigrated to USA initially. Mobility and continuity among Eastern European Jews: Eastern European Jew immigrants to USA successfully assimilated into the mainstream of the American society and contributed much to its growth. They have blended well in the nationality and culture points of their settlements, with no inclination to go back to the country of their origin. Many have little connection with the country of their origin, viz., the immigrant Jews from Russia. From Peasant to workers: The Polish Immigrant in the United States: From 1880-1924, about 2.5 million immigrants arrived in United States from Poland. Most of them worked as underground laborers and in mining companies. With the mechanization of agriculture in the latter half of the nineteenth century, small landholdings were uneconomical for farming; a large number of farmers were without any means of livelihood and immigrated to other European countries and USA. They excelled as a great mining community. The Civil Rights Movement: The Social and Political Watershed: The American Civil War (1861-65) redefined the borders of the Nation. The South was defeated and slavery in USA ended. But racism, though legally abolished, continued and the blacks suffered racial discrimination in many areas. This gave rise to the Civil Rights movement and Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. This was the outcome of several protest marches that culminated in the huge march on Washington in 1963. The Many faces of Chinaco Movement 1963-1971: This is a cultural and political movement, and it changed its face and strategy as per the demand of the situation. It is an effort to formulate transnational cultural identities, through the tool of literature and performing arts. It stands for affirmative action, fair deal to laborers, works against all sorts of exploitation, immigrant rights and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. American Indians and Political Protest: The “Red Power” years: Indigenous peoples in the United States have resorted to numerous protests. These protests have led to an ongoing national social movement in the United States. The methods of protests are well-defined purposeful political challenges, and use of non-institutional tactics of protest. For this, a good and imaginative leadership, a national identity, well-organized political network are working well in USA. Borders and Bridges: Undocumented Immigrants from Mexico: The number of illegal (undocumented) immigrants from Mexico is speculative, but substantial. The reasons are simple and straightforward-- Proximity to USA and lack of employment opportunities. All communities from Mexico migrate to USA, most of them through dubious and risky means to improve their standard of life. Cuba’s Refugees: Manifold Migrations: Revolution was only the beginning for the exodus of Cuban people to other countries, notably USA. Though a good chunk of the people supported the revolution initially, soon disenchantment crept in and people left the homeland. Apart from the economic and political reasons, emotive and cognitive factors were also responsible for migration. Four major waves of migrations have been identified and majority of them immigrated to USA. Dominicans in the United States: First and Second Generation Settlement: Dominican Republic in the 1990s is one of the top countries from where the people migrated to USA. In 2000 there were about 800,000 people of Dominican origins in USA, most of them in New York City. It has impacted the cultural landscape and commercial life of many American cities. A Legacy of war, Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: The reason for immigration from these countries was USA losing the war to communist governments. Such migration moves were planned by the US government and the military. Immigrants and their plight The authors point out that the prime reason for immigration is economic and political upheavals. Discrimination against non-Europeans in USA continues in one forms or the other from individuals and institutions and this has been the bane of American society, for which satisfactory remedy has not been found. They have limited access to the means of success in the United States and find it difficult to rise more than certain levels. There could be very few exceptions, however! The remedy will not be achieved through the laws alone. Pedraza et al. write, “Because patterns of discrimination—individual and institutional—served to exclude some groups from full participation in the society, their access to the historical moments of opportunity that presented themselves over time also varied” ( p. 17). Conclusion: Some of the most significant issues discussed in the book and articles are immigration, race and ethnicity and the current thinking of the dominant white race about the state of affairs in America. The authors write, “The high rates of immigration, coupled with the high birth rates of many minority groups, such as African Americans, and Hispanic Americans, also mean that white Americans—the descendants of the older European migrations—are now a declining proportion of the American population.”(p.3)In America the racial bias continues, though to a lesser extent. The belief persists that the non-whites are inferior biologically and arguments have been put forth that whites are healthier and stronger, besides being more intelligent than the other ethnic groups. Immigrant workers are willing to accept, sometimes under duress, lower wages than the native workforce. All things considered, immigrant workers have contributed to the wellbeing and prosperity of America. Works Cited Pedraza, Sylvia, and Ruben G. Rumbaut. 1995. Origins and Destinies: Immigration, Race, and Ethnicity in America. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Read More

It was the important entry point for the Europeans since 1880s. About 20 million immigrants had reached the point of their first landing Ellis Island till the early 20th century. The European immigration continued unabated during the 18th and 19th centuries. An acute condition of the agricultural products known as potato famine in Ireland was the cause of the first wave of immigrants from Ireland who arrived in 1840s. During this period German immigration also began and gradually increased. They settled in Rochester and Buffalo.

European immigration picked up momentum and Eastern European Jews and Italians followed suit. This was in 1880s by which time the number of German speaking Jew immigrants in New York was 80,000. By 1920, it had risen to 2,000,000. Italian immigrants began arriving in 1800s. By 1950, their number had increased to 500,000 including the city and the state. The New York City was like the transit centre. As soon as one wave of immigrants dispersed to other areas, a new wave arrived. Yankees from New England were in the forefront as for migration and most of those arriving in 1790 to 1840 in New York were from this country.

The Chinese first entered America in 1849.They came as laborers, seeking employment. They arrived in San Francisco. The Chinese suffered immense discrimination as American workers felt insecurity by the low emoluments the Chinese were willing to accept. Internal conditions in USA also contributed to mass migration of black people to New York. Before the Civil War, the migration was a slow process, but during World War I massive migration of black population to New York took place in 1960.

The process of migration gathered momentum and by 1960, about 600,000 Puerto Rican birth parentages had migrated to New York. Next to follow were Dominicans, Haitians and Jamaicans. By 1960, the New York City began to experience the reverse swing, and outward migration began mainly due to economic reasons, better infrastructure facilities made available in the suburbs and the neighboring states. In 1970-1980s, about 1,500,000 migrated out of the city/state. This domestic migration was the new trend due to technological advances happening all over the country and preference of the industrial establishments to move to the countryside, leaving the thickly populated and congested metropolitan areas.

Blacks comprised about 20% of the New York City total population. The articles mentioned below give the outlines about the overall issues related to migration to USA and the current problems the country is facing: Erin’c children in America: Three centuries of Irish Immigration to the United States: One fifth of all Americans, are of whole or partial Irish ancestry. Ireland is Europe’s migration--prone country for over two centuries, and the reasons for immigrations were mainly economic.

Italian Americans: A century of Ethnic Change: The greatest surge of Italian immigration took place in 1880-1914. The then Italian governments encouraged the poor peasants of the country to immigrate to combat economic pressure in the southern part of the Italy. Mostly unskilled laborers immigrated to USA initially. Mobility and continuity among Eastern European Jews: Eastern European Jew immigrants to USA successfully assimilated into the mainstream of the American society and contributed much to its growth.

They have blended well in the nationality and culture points of their settlements, with no inclination to go back to the country of their origin. Many have little connection with the country of their origin, viz., the immigrant Jews from Russia. From Peasant to workers: The Polish Immigrant in the United States: From 1880-1924, about 2.5 million immigrants arrived in United States from Poland. Most of them worked as underground laborers and in mining companies. With the mechanization of agriculture in the latter half of the nineteenth century, small landholdings were uneconomical for farming; a large number of farmers were without any means of livelihood and immigrated to other European countries and USA.

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