The New Colossus By Emma Lazarus - Essay Example

The New Colossus By Emma Lazarus Between 1886 and 1924, approximately 14 million immigrants entered the United s through New York. The immigrants saw the statue of liberty and thought that they had freedom because it was a symbol of hope and a mother of immigrants to many generations. However, it was just a welcoming statue to greater tribulation and torture. This prompted Emma Lazarus to write a poem which poses her as an activist to air the grievances of the immigrants who were suffering. She donated her poem, “The New Colossus” to an auction with an aim to raise money for the construction of the statue’s pedestal. Therefore, it is evident the poem was meant to offer new hope to the immigrants from the tribulation, miseries, and torture of Europe. She says, “Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” (Lazarus, Joseph & Emma n.p). According to the history of Emma Lazarus, one will be able to understand that the fate of immigrants. In one of the articles written focusing on her poem, the writer remarked that Emma was not affected by the issue of America’s racist attitude toward immigrants in her poem. Instead, she involved herself in politicizing the issue of immigrants through turning the American monument into one that has the history of the Jews (Lazarus, Joseph & Emma n.p). The writer noted that Emma had a welcoming gesture that was as a result of her awareness of the persecution of the Jews across the globe. Emma was also interested in Jewish culture through helping them to face the world since she was working with Jewish refugees at the Wards Island immigration center in 1882. These facts prove that she was advocating for the Jews. The other group of immigrants consisted of different people such as Latin American and was not included in Emma’s poem, which campaign to loosen their bondage. This is evident in the poem since Emma was zealous in helping the Jews only. That is why she states, “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me” (Lazarus, Joseph & Emma n.p). Also, many writers criticized her poem because they did know the intention that Emma had in advocating for the protection of immigrants. The poem, “The New Colossus written by Emma Lazarus” was written at the height of immigration, which was happening in America and the world at large. The immigrants came to America mainly for economic opportunity since America was experiencing rapid industrial growth. The growth meant that America needed high demand for both skilled and unskilled labor. There were other reasons such as political, social and economic that had an impact on the immigrants. This is evident when Emma states, “Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp” (Lazarus, Joseph & Emma n.p). Due to all these factors, different immigrants from different part of the world met in America making the issue critical. The effect of the immigrants resulted in racism and discrimination, which included torture and tribulation. Both became a disturbing issue in the entire world attracting individuals and institutions to fight for the welfare and well-being of the immigrants. Among the individuals was Emma Lazarus, who came up with a poem to raise the hope of the immigrants. The poem of Emma became famous in the land of America and other parts of the world showing the plight of the immigrants. The message in the poem created an open avenue for immigrants to come in America and value the national heritage. This led to the formation of the monument with an objective of allowing immigrants to enjoy freedom. However, the monument raised several queries that questioned if the United States was a habitation of immigrants, a land of refuge or the persecuted and disturbed land governed by poverty. Also, people questioned if the country will ever become stronger and powerful if it allows the outsider to come in from all over the world. On the other hand, scholars questioned if the immigrants would end up becoming a burden to the Americans while others came up with factors to regulate immigrants. The factors included the number to be allowed in the coutry, country of origin, their politics, medical conditions, education levels, and politics practiced in their countries, religion, and their financial means. They also questioned about the children born by the migrant who lived in America. Since the establishment of the republic, Americans and their legislator have been weighing the outcome of either allowing immigrants or restricting them. American government have been assessing the activities of the foreign children born in the United States through checking the paths to citizenship. The government has observed the paths of the citizens through observing dominance in political outcomes of every election conducted and also in the newspaper headlines. That is why she states, “Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command” (Lazarus, Joseph & Emma n.p). Currently, it has led to the formation of rules and regulation to govern the issue of immigrants. The first formed was the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 with an intention of limiting the influence of the French Revolution. The regulation led to the deportation of certain immigrants and closing immigrants-owned ventures. This happened during the reign of President John Adams with the help of U.S Congress. Apart from that, the docket of immigration ensured suspected anarchists and communists would not access America through the formation of laws to regulate immigration department. Another area America considered was the input of the immigrant in the field of agriculture and industrialization. This field had attracted a huge number of immigrants who were offering labor, but was regulated by the government. Latin American and China were the famous immigrants who worked in agricultural fields, and construction of railroad respectively. China, who worked in mining and rail construction, became the first to be sent back home and banned from coming to America through the formation of Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This occured after the white people complained that Chinese people were taking all their jobs. Through the poem, the American government began providing the immigrants with citizenship. This is evident when she says, “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,” (Lazarus, Joseph & Emma n.p). Also, the children born in America were registered as citizens. This factor made the government to allow them into America by providing the documents to prove they were citizens. However, America did not honor all the commitment they had pledged to help immigrants, and eradicate discrimination after the death of Emma. Today, one can assume that the issue of discrimination was somehow fueled by Emma. It is because she adjudicated for the welfare of the Jewish immigrants and ignored the others posing a big question which was criticized by many writers in different articles. Discrimination was also observed in America through racial, gender and sexual orientation. Today, it is seen in America where mixing of races was illegal in most places such as public schools, public transportation, and eating places. The problem is worse because the supply of resources is done through discrimination whereby black schools and the similar institutions which caters for the issues of blacks receives few resources. A perfect example of discrimination in ancient days was in Rosa Parks where it was the custom to move at the back of the bus or surrender your seat to a white person. In conclusion, it is evident from the poem, “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus that America received many immigrants more than any other country in the world that is involved in making of the 21st century. The immigrants supplied America with cheap labor in agricultural fields and industries. In spite of this factors, immigrants were mistreated due to their color, origin, level of education and poverty. It led to the formation of groups as well as individuals with a heart to air the plight of the immigrants. One of such people was Emma Lazarus through her poem, “The New Colossus” which highlighted the fate of the immigrants. Even though the poem was reflecting so much on Jews immigrants, the immigranst were assisted by the government. Work Cited Lazarus, Emma, and Joseph Sorrentino. The New Colossus. Philadelphia: J. Sorrentino, 1991. Print. Read More