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Sketch #1
As I walk through the various neighborhoods around the city, I notice many influences of immigration, particularly in Jackson Heights. This particular city district has a large East Indian population, and their influence can be felt the moment you get out at the Roosevelt subway station. One of their main contributions to the area is the smell that defines Jackson heights. There are many Indian restaurants that are located here and there is a distinct aroma of Indian cuisine. You smell the different foods various curries, tandoor chicken, and the flavored rice and rotis- as you walk around and do your shopping. Its an appetizing smell, so compelling, that I feel the need to sample a dish each time I go through the neighborhood. This atmosphere of Indian, and its strong and alluring aromas is a great source of advertisement for the restaurants in the area- what better way to sell your product than by appealing to the taste buds of your patrons. Also it gives evidence to the prominence of a particular group of people and a unique culture that has decided to settle the area.
Sketch #2
I like to go into various ethnic groceries, to look and to learn about the different types of fruits, vegetables and products that are native to a particular country and have significance to a particular group of people. Two stores that readily come to mind and really cater to ethnic needs are the West Indian Groceries stores and the Indian branches of grocery stores called Patel Brothers. The West Indian Groceries cater for the needs of the Caribbean people, particularly people from the areas of Trinidad and Guyana. The Patel Brother Groceries cater largely for Indian, Bangladesh and Pakistani customers. The foods sold in these stores are somewhat different from one another but largely overlap-since a majority of the Guyanese and Trinidadian population migrated from the Indian subcontinent its natural that they retain some of the same ethnic foods. The foods sold in these stores are a source of ethnic identity and readily show that these groups of people have a place in American society.
Sketch #3
The Indian community has a significant impact on the city; there are many Indian owned business and establishments that focus primarily on things of Indian origin. In many areas of Queens, particularly Liberty Avenue and Jackson Heights many Indian jewelry stores and garment stores have become prominent. The Indian jewelry stores usually have very beautiful displays in their windows and boast a very fine caliber of gold, sliver and precious stones. The prices are normally very high but the quality and detail of the pieces sold are usually quite good. Their garment stores usually focus on traditional Indian women wear like saris and shalwars. These articles of clothing are very elaborate and ornate and usually a moderate quality sari would be around seventy-five to ninety five dollars. The clothing is often beaded and a particular design is woven into the fabric to give it a beautiful appearance. These stores cater for the needs of the Indian population and further deepen their ties to the place where they live.
Sketch #4
There has been large Chinese immigration into various areas of the city. Evidence of this is in the various Chinese restaurants and groceries that appear throughout the city. The restaurants focus on Chinese cuisine such as vegetables and rice. They have a specific flavor and distinction that makes it known in many areas of New York. Also the Chinese groceries are apparent on many street blocks. They usually have an outdoor vegetables and fruit section, while the inside houses the packaged products. The fruits and vegetables are often cheap and come from many different places around the world. The Chinese restaurants and groceries cater for many different people and so their customers are a diverse group. These businesses all add to the Chinese presence in New York.
Sketch #5
Signs of immigration and the notable presence of different immigrant groups can be seen from the variety of houses of worship that are located throughout New York. The places of worship take the form of mosques, churches, mandirs, temples, synagogues etc. Since immigrants bring with them, as they move from their home to new places of settlement, their religions: the establishment of mosques, churches, mandirs, temples, synagogues etc give evidence of their contribution to the cultural tapestry of New York. Each place of worship is essentially a separate community form mainstream culture, where immigrants participate in worshiping God and celebrating their holy days. Recently there was a Muslim holiday, Eid, in which I observed this idea of preserving culture and tradition through religious institutions. This holiday involved giving sacrifice to Allah. I saw how much of the mosque waited for this holiday and readily prepared for this day while much of the non-Muslim community was oblivious to what was going on. From this I realized how much I do not know about what is going in the temples, mandirs, churches, synagogues etc around the city. Although I see them daily, on the walk to the bus stop or while taking a drive around the neighborhood, I dont know what is going on inside these places which adds to the fact that religious houses are very sheltered and very much like a separate world.
Sketch #6
Last year I participated in a Hindu festival called Holi. This holiday is an important part of the Hindu religion. It took place in late March and was in the form of a parade that lasted for a number of streets. The parade was centered on Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill Queens. From participating in the festival I learned that it was a celebration of the end of the Hindu year. The god most associated with this festival is Krishna; participants in this holiday also celebrate rebirth and fertility. It was a fun celebration; the people were relaxed and very friendly. They threw colored water and powder at each other and it was a very fun atmosphere. Most people ran around throwing the colored dyes while dancing to the Hindi, calypso and chutney music. The occasion was very colorful and almost chaotic. My friend belonged to a religious dance group that is frequently on I-TV, this organization had a float in the parade and I was allowed to be on the float with the group. This was a fun experience, not only did I learn about a Hindu festival but I got to participate in a very enjoyable ritual. It was nice to see how the people of the Hindu faith got together to celebrate their religion and heritage. Its parades like these that demonstrate the unique and diversified culture of the city, which is the result of immigrant groups bringing their own uniqueness to New York.
Sketch #7
When my uncle married a woman of the Hindu faith I observed that she carefully celebrated each and every Hindu festival and holiday, and frequently visited the mandir. This was unusual because people who married into a Muslim family tended to convert to Islam and practice this faith instead. She chose to worship as she had always done and my family soon got use to seeing her engage in the many festival of Hinduism. A particular festival that intrigued me was Diwali (the festival of lights), which was celebrated during the fall. This festival honored several Hindu gods, including the goddess of wealth and beauty. The houses at this time of the year are decorated with lights, candles in clay pots, which serve as a trail to the gods. The lights are usually put to float on the water. My aunt celebrates this holiday with much enthusiasm, and this festival is a very pretty one. When I asked her why she didnt chose to convert, she told me that she couldnt because her faith was Hindu and that is who she is. I think as much as a festival or holiday is about celebrating and worshipping God, it is also about keeping ones identity. When various people celebrate their holidays that are affirming that they are of a particular faith, of a particular group. I believe that to immigrants celebrating their holidays is essential in maintaining who they are in a foreign land. We see the big parades and festive markers that demonstrate the various ethnic identities of many immigrant groups.
Sketch #8
I recently went to see the movie Guru that combines themes of both Indian and American cinema. The movie centered on a young Indian man, Ramu who came to America to make money and find happiness. He wanted to get into acting but could only find jobs doing adult movies and through a series of events he became the Guru of sex. The movie had a distinct American theme, such plots wouldnt be common in Hindi movies but it mixed Indian elements into the movie. Guru had Indian music, dancing, food and characters. This movie had appeal for both the American and Indian audiences and I believe it shows how the immigrant Indian population has impacted America. In making Guru I think that the movie makers felt that the Indian population would respond to a movie of this sort and also there was enough of a market that this movie would be profitable. There is a strong Indian population that would watch this movie. This film demonstrates how American films have changed to account for the immigrant population of the United States. Guru reflects the Indian presence in American society. .
Sketch #9
Recently I have been using the subway trains more and more on a regular basis because of this I have encounter some interesting things or fixtures of the metro system. One thing that immediately made me think of immigration and immigrant culture was the different types of music I hear while taking the train. Particularly on the A train, I hear melodies similar to Trinidadian or Jamaican steel drum music. Daily I see the drummers board the train and lay out their equipment while politely asking pardon to anyone whose commute has been irritated because of their music. They put up chairs and immediately the hands and the feet of these musicians begin to move, producing an enticing and rhythmic melody. The music produced by the drums has a loud and boisterous quality. The musicians have a distinctly west Indian look about them- long braids, loose clothing and a strong accent. The music is enjoyable and it makes me think of the life of these individuals both here in New York and in their native lands. I imagine that playing the drums on the train is a little like preserving a piece of their culture and home.
Sketch #10
As I think about immigration and how the immigrants have integrated their culture into American society I come to the conclusion that immigrants (or at least immigrants of mature age) desperately try to hold onto their identity while trying to blend into a new land. I see many examples of immigrant culture being preserved by those who have just immigrated. For example my family is acquainted with an elderly Hindu woman who rejects most things culturally alien to her. She refuses to go to an American doctor when she is ill but readily consults a pundit to check if people have placed a curse on her or if the spell of illness is merely a result of misfortunate alignment of planets. She does not think conventional medicine will cure her and laughs at the idea of anyone wanting to be a physician over a mystic healer. Her convictions all represent part of her cultural heritage and as long as she lives she will try to preserve them because that is her way. While immigrants can come to a new land they cannot totally abandon their ideas and culture that has been a part of them for so long.
Sketch #11
While I was on a trip in Barbados I learned about the Rastafarian religion and beliefs. One thing that struck me was the fact that an important component of the religion was the smoking of marijuana. Marijuana smoking has been legalized in Barbados to cater for members of the Rastafarian religion. This made me think- is marijuana smoking a type of religious expression: obviously the Barbadian government thought so. Many Rastafarians live in the United States and continue to follow this particular teaching as part of their religious belief. Marijuana is not legal in American and it made me wonder if these particular immigrants (Rastafarians), while trying to attain a better more fulfilling life have compromised themselves and their religion. This led to the further thought what else have different groups of immigrants sacrificed to come to this land. It seems clear that immigrants sacrifice some of their freedoms when they enter America, is the hope of a better life through money worth it and should the American government do more to compensate immigrant citizens for the lifestyle they left behind?
Sketch #12
A book that I recently read, Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall gave me a little insight into how an immigrant group might pull together to form a better life in an alien land. This book revolves around a group of Barbadian immigrants who have left their small island and have established residence in a New York neighborhood. Throughout the novel the older immigrants work to build a life in the city. They continuously work and save in hopes to buy a house, particularly a brownstone. The major goal of the Barbadians is to have a permanent house and establish something for their children. They form a committee that pools the resources of the Barbadian community to aid members of their community in buying a house, starting a business, or paying off tuition for the schooling of the children. This pooling of resources enables the community as a whole to benefit. This is significant because it shows how an immigrant community can work as a whole to establish themselves while each individual member of the community shares the benefit and is taken care of. It seems to me that most immigrant groups that come to the United States seek the comfort of security. This need and feeling for security is exemplified in the novel, the work that this community placed into stability and progress shows the basic desire of most immigrants.
Sketch #13
I live on Liberty Ave. in Richmond Hill and in my neighborhood there are many people of West Indian origin, particularly Guyanese and Trinidadian immigrants. This neighborhood has been transformed since I moved in, there are no longer modest little shops and quite dwellings, almost everything has been altered to have a more tropical twist. In the summer time there are sprawling open type stores that sell a variety of fruits and vegetables akin to the market places in Georgetown or Port-a-Spain. And you can hear calypso, reggae and Indian music blasting out from almost every corner. Also there are numerous Caribbean style roti shops on almost every corner ranging from the establishments of Sybils on 135th st, Hot Spicy on 125th st, Bamboo Garden on 117th st and many others in between. To me this demonstrates the power of immigrants over the landscape of New York. Just by establishing a place where people of one nationality and culture congregate you have the power to change the cultural atmosphere of the neighborhood. Sometimes I walk down the streets and it seems by the familiarity of the people and the atmosphere of the neighborhood that Im walking in the city of Guyana.
Sketch #14
I was coming back from Toys R Us in Times Square when I noticed a particular figure walking amid the crowd. She had a very elaborate hairdo all swept up with dainty clips, her face was smooth and powdered white, her lips and eyes highlighted by mascara and lipstick and flowing from her body was a long and silvery foreign dress, it turned out to be a very detailed kimono. I stared at her for a moment I think it was the shock of seeing this very foreign woman amid the suits and ties of Manhattan. Although I was taken back by the beauty and power of this foreign figure I realized that seeing people in cultural dress wasnt such an unusual thing in New York. The city of immigrants is indeed full of people of different background who go about in cultural garb. For instance I see Indian women wearing saris, Chinese people wearing jade jewelry, and Mexican people wearing sombreros. These are all instances in which immigrants have expressed their culture through dress.
Sketch #15
When immigrants come to the United States they try to establish a new life and try to make a prosperous home. Although they might consider the United States a home they must feel some tie to their native land. I have often observed that many immigrants when asked where they are from answer with their native country rather than the place they live in. As immigrants assimilate into the "American culture" they try to maintain a balance between their native country and the United States. They want to be in the United States for a particular reason: to earn more money, to get a better education or just to be relieved from various forms of persecution, so they try to adapt yet they still have a strong bond and loyalty to their native country. When immigrants become citizens they pledge loyalty to the United States yet their love and much of their loyalty is to their home country. At various times the Unites States has gone to war with various nations, I wonder how the immigrants of these lands feel when their home nation is being attacked by the country they have come to live in. This should obviously strain the relationship between the United States and its various immigrant populations.
Sketch #16
As immigrants came to the United States they began to look for people of their own ethnicity for help and opportunity. As the Chinese came to New York they immediately looked to Mott Street to find employment and a place to stay. It was here that these immigrants found most opportunity. The racial and ethnic prejudice that drove them out of California was less prominent, though still in existence, in the areas of the Five Points. The Chinese community established itself though a network of cooperation among the Chinese immigrants. For example, cooperative systems such as whey ensured that Chinese immigrants had an opportunity to start businesses and develop themselves financially. Whey was a loan system that was used to raise money for business ventures. The whey gave everyone a chance to borrow money based upon the amount of interest they were willing to pay. In the end every member of the whey had the seed money needed to start a business. This kind of cooperative dealing among the immigrants showed the willingness of the community to pull together and also ensured that some individuals were successful, which fostered the prosperity of Chinatown.
Sketch #17
Various institutions are important in the shaping of ethnic neighborhoods, for example the Chinese general store was influential in the making of Chinatown. These stores were a source of credit and supplies and acted as newspapers stations and post offices. Most of the storeowners readily loaned money to the community as capital to start different types of businesses. Interest was not charged on these loans in exchange for constant patronage by the person taking the loan. These stores gave many immigrants an opportunity to become financially stable. Many Chinese immigrants received their mail at the grocery store because residence was an ever-changing thing. Major portions of the Chinese population would gather in these stores to exchange gossip, or just be social. The groceries were not just a place to get provisions needed for the week rather it was more of a meeting place that provided a sense of relief and relaxation away from the hardships of work. The general stores played a major part in the lives of early immigrants and provided them a source of accommodation and help.
Sketch #18
Another place that was influential in the making of Chinatown were the gambling joints and the opium houses. These establishments supported outsiders opinions of Chinatown being a place of vice. The popular games of pak ko piu and fan tan were played in many of the Chinese gambling dens. These gambling houses gave the Chinese immigrants a place of recreation and also showed the Chinese obsession with games of chance. The opium dens were the source of real controversy and many people felt that a description of Chinatown would not be complete without the mention of these establishments. They were usually in very obscure places where patrons could use the narcotic and rest until the effects wore off. The Irish immigrants vehemently argued that these dens corrupted and seduced young girls. "Both Chinese Five Pointers and their non- Chinese neighbors began to complain about the districts vice industry". These establishments and the people who ran them gave the community a face of corruption and wickedness. These institutions gave Chinatown a negative image; it wasnt until these establishments were shut down by the law that the image of the neighborhood began to change.
Sketch #19
For most immigrant neighborhoods the establishments of that neighborhood and the environment that surrounds the area directly influence its development. The various establishments (general stores, whey, opium houses, gambling dens, restaurants, tea houses etc.) in Chinatown helped to shape the communitys character. The establishment of whey helped to build up the community and made more financial resources available to those who sought a business venture. The store -owners provided a place where the community could come together and also offered loans for the poorer immigrants to establish themselves. Despite the positive contributions of these institutions and individuals, Chinatown also experienced some notoriety in the form of gambling houses and opium dens. These gave the community more negative qualities but were nevertheless influential. Combined, both the good and bad, has had a great effect on the community of Chinatown. Like most communities, Chinatown has its fair share of the good and bad.
Sketch #20
Often reading about a particular place is entirely different than actually visiting the place itself. This was the case during my walking tour of Chinatown. Prior to the tour I had had done the required readings and felt that I was very knowledgeable about the area, but this was only true to an extent. The tour gave me a very intimate view into the modern Chinatown while the readings gave me an excellent introduction to the making of Chinatown and its history. Although the tour was comprised of significant historical facts the actual walk made me aware of what Chinatown was like- the tour appealed to my senses (I heard the distinct Chinese language, saw the Chinese people and observed their culture, tasted the oriental cuisine, touched the various landmarks and Chinese goods, and smelled the aromas coming from dumplings and other foods). Because of the tour I felt more comfortable in the neighborhood, while the reading gave me a basic description, actually being there made Chinatown more memorable. I think this is the basic feeling while experiencing another culture, you can read up on Indian cuisine as much as you like but can never really know the taste of the spicy curries without actually experiencing it. This is the same feeling with ethnic neighborhoods. Until you visit the neighborhood where people of a particular culture settled you cant really know about their immigration histories, or what drives their culture and community.
Sketch #21
I went to Chinatown with the impression that the area was filled with Chinese general stores, dry cleaning businesses, and restaurants. From reading Five Points I got the impression that the neighborhood was an intimate community working together to build prosperity and help new immigrants survive. For instance the general store was a crucial means of communication to China because it served as a post office and it was also a very social place- the groceries are described as "clubs and general newspaper stations, and post offices". Although I didnt expect the general stores to be as popular as they once were I was surprised to find only one left in Chinatown. I had expected to find more of these establishments. The remaining store did not fulfill the role that was described in the readings. I think that as the times changed immigrants became less and less in need of the services provided by the stores: to receive mail immigrants could give the address of their family or even give their own address as permanent residence became less problematic, also as Chinatown expanded new places for socialization evolved. It was still surprising to find only one general store left, I thought that they might have changed to cater for the change in times but I still expected to find a few.
Sketch #22
Something that surprised me about Chinatown was the fact that there were sections that were mainly settled by Chinese of a particular area. For example the Fijians settled in one particular section of Chinatown while the Cantonese settled in the other sections. Before coming on the tour and from the impression I got from the readings I felt that the Chinese immigrants were not divided by regional differences. I wasnt even aware of some of the prejudices that these groups had against each other. I was aware that they were organizations that helped immigrants that came from the same area of China as members of the associations but I didnt think that Chinese immigrants developed Chinatown according to these differences. I thought that there were really no significant differences between the Chinese immigrants and had expected to find a Chinese community where its inhabitants were just from China, not particular parts of China. It also seemed to me that the areas settled by the Fijians were a little more rundown than areas settled by the Cantonese. The Cantonese section of Chinatown seemed to cater for tourist and had a lot of trendy and attractive businesses. The Fijian section catered to the needs of the immigrants by providing areas to shop for groceries and clothing, the area was less commercialized.
Sketch #23
After seeing Chinatown I realized that although you can read about an ethnic neighborhood the reality is a bit different from what is portrayed through books. Immigrant neighborhoods have characteristics and prejudices that reflect the immigrant culture. Although you can never learn all about the neighborhood just walking through the streets and observing the inhabitants you get a greater understanding of both the neighborhood and the culture that is preserved within it. For example I observed that on the doorways of almost all the business establishments they were pictures of Chinese deities. It gave me the impression that the Chinese were a very religious group of people, the businessmen look to their gods for prosperity and feel that by having them in their places of business they would have good luck. The deities play a very important role in Chinatown and in Chinese culture. The Chinese New Year celebrations are filled with actions that show reverence to the gods and fear of demons. The fireworks that are customary in each celebration are to ward off the demons and ensure good fortune in the New Year. Such finer points of the Chinese culture, as with any immigrant culture, come from first hand knowledge and observation of where these groups of people live and conduct their lives.
Sketch #24
When visiting Chinatown I met a Chinese man (Master Lou) who established a Chinese temple at the corner of Mott Street. He claimed to have the power to talk to a local deity of a Fijian province. The deity would give Master Lou dreams and he would interpret the dreams to give advice or answers to the members of his temple. This struck me as a bit odd at first- How could this man talk to a deity? What makes people even believe that he can talk to this being? At first I thought that maybe he was a charlatan trying to take advantage of peoples trust and faith. After visiting his temple and talking with members of this association I got the impression that they genuinely had faith in Master Lou and his predictions. He is well know in Fuji as well as in New York as a man who had this special skill and no one really questions his sincerity. Members of his temple say that when they bring a problem to him, he prays to the deity for answers and the deity gives him dreams, Master Lou then interprets the dreams and delivers the answer or message. They say that he rarely gives them bad advice and that he is correct almost a 100% of the time. I realized that it isnt unusual for people to put their faith in a religious leader because he has a better understanding of a higher power. The Hindus put their faith in the pundits, the catholic put their faith in the Pope and the Chinese put their faith in men like Mater Lou: all these groups of people have a certain degree of faith that they are not being taken advantage of.
Sketch #25
Different festivals follow immigrants to the United States, some of the most common festivals are those that celebrate the coming of Spring. For example the Spring Festival for the Chinese (referred to as the Chinese New Year in the West) is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in New York. It is the oldest and most important Chinese festival. The Spring festival celebrates the earth coming back to life, and the start of ploughing and sowing. Preparations for the New Year festival start during the last few days of the last moon. Houses are thoroughly cleaned, debts are repaid, hair is cut and new clothes bought, among other things. Doors are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper whose texts seek good luck and praise nature; they also hope to keep away ghosts and evil spirits. In many homes incense is burned, and also in the temples as a mark of respect to ancestors. Each year of the New Year is characterized by an animal, this year is the "ram in a flock of ewes". Celebrations like these help the immigrant community retain parts of their culture. As immigrants move away from their homelands and into a new area they tend to adopt a new lifestyle but the festivals they celebrate maintain their ties to their homeland and way of life.
Sketch #26
When immigrants come to the United States they try to establish a new life and try to make a prosperous home. Although they might consider the United States a home they must feel some tie to their native land. I have often observed that many immigrants when asked where they are from answer with their native country rather than the place they live in. As immigrants assimilate into the "American culture" they try to maintain a balance between their native country and the United States. They want to be in the United States for a particular reason: to earn more money, to get a better education or just to be relieved from various forms of persecution, so they try to adapt yet they still have a strong bond and loyalty to their native country. When immigrants become citizens they pledge loyalty to the United States yet their love and much of their loyalty is to their home country. At various times the Unites States has gone to war with various nations, I wonder how the immigrants of these lands feel when their home nation is being attacked by the country they have come to live in. This should obviously strain the relationship between the United States and its various immigrant populations.
Sketch #27
Neighborhoods and communities are all shaped by the people who settle in a particular area and in turn the people are influenced by the various organizations and establishments around their home. These various establishments play an important role in shaping the community because they provide vital services and support for the inhabitants. Religious organizations provide a major outlet for support, in various forms (religious, educational, family etc.) One such institution is The Church of the Transfiguration (RC) of Chinatown, led by Father Nobiletti. The Church provides many services to the people of Chinatown including infusing faith into the community and aiding in everyday concerns. When Father Nobiletti was interviewed he offered additional perspective as to the role of the Church in the community, and added to unique picture of the Church by providing its history and the ongoing efforts of the Church to reach out to the people. Form the interview I was better able to understand the role of the Church both in the past and present. Through my visits to Chinatown and interacting with the people I better appreciated why the Church was an integral part of the Chinatown community: it served as a guiding light to a people trying to build a life in American while maintaining close ties to their own culture and land.
Sketch #28
The Church of the Transfiguration (RC) was built in 1801 as a Dutch Lutheran Church that provided services in English. It later changed into an Episcopalian Church like many of the Churches below 14th street, around 1811; subsequently in 1853 after the Irish Catholic immigration the Episcopalian churches began to move above 14th street because the inhabitants of the community were now largely Catholic. The Church of the Transfiguration officially became Roman Catholic in 1853 to cater to the needs of the Catholic population. Founded by a Cuban priest/ philosopher, Father Felix Valela, the Church began serving the impoverished Irish Catholics; providing a place that extended a hand to the poor. Around the end of the 1800s, as the Irish moved out the Italians moved in, the Church s congregation became mainly Italian. As the Church was serving the community of Little Italy, many Chinese began to establish a home around this area. What became know as the bachelor society consisted of only Chinese men who worked on the railroads. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prevented any significant development of a Chinatown. It was not until 1845 when the Act was repealed that there was significant congregation of Chinese in that area. As Chinatown began to form many other religious organizations were moving out as different immigrant groups came in. But the Church of the Transfiguration continued its service to the community and went out to the Chinese like it did with previous immigrants groups. The survival of the Church throughout the decades is based on its ability to adapt to the changes in the community and work to aid its congregants. As more and more Chinese converted to Catholicism, the Church provided religious guidance, aid in education, support for families, and financial and employment opportunities for the Chinese community.
Sketch #29
The Church has a very mixed congregation consisting of elderly Italians and a majority of Chinese. The Chinese congregants are made up of the Cantonese speakers, Mandarin speakers, Fujianese speakers and the English speaking Chinese. Father Nobiletti estimates that about half of the congregation is illegal and came to New York through risky and illegal ventures. The parish of the Church is not limited to the people who live in close proximity, rather Chinese come from all over the five boroughs to attend services-a large portion of the Chinese members stem from Brooklyn and New Jersey. The newest members of the congregation are the Fujianese (who already are largely Catholic), recent additions to Chinatown. The congregation has been vibrant since 1801, even though its skipped from different, religions, to different cultures. Although the cultures have changed, the church has been greatly at the service of immigrants. The congregation works as a body in Chinatown that functions both in serving the older people and the newcomers.
Sketch #30
The people of Chinatown face many problems and obstacles in trying to establish a life in New York. Problems include financial insecurity because of the debt owed to snakeheads for illegal passage. Since a lot of the Chinese are smuggled into the country a large portion of the community owe up to 60,000 or 70,000 to the snakeheads, rendering them unable to save for the future or even provide for their families. Another problem is the prejudice of people of their own race or nationality in Chinatown. The people from Fujian are people who hail from the countryside (hurng ha ) and are not well educated. Some Cantonese consider themselves more educated and look down upon the Fujianese. This causes some unnecessary strife between the two groups, when what is seen as unsavory behavior (spitting, squatting or wearing hats in the Church) is detected. Illness is also of concern, many of the Chinese are afraid to go to the hospital without insurance to seek treatment: marriage poses an obstacle, many immigrants are afraid to register at to get married because of their illegal status. All these things add the hardships of life in the community and also pose a handicap in the progression of life.
Sketch #31
A unique problem to the Chinese community, and what Father Nobiletti sees, as the greatest problem faced by the people is the state of the family in Chinatown. As a minister and member of the community he sees that there is a breakdown of the traditional family, solidarity and more of the young people are getting into trouble. There are a lot more problems between parents and children. Because Chinese parents tend to work day and night to provide for their family, children are often left to govern themselves and this is a problem when the child no longer adheres to the parents. In previous years the families have been able to remain close but this is rapidly changing in Chinatown. This problem is most severe with the Fujianese, when they have a child he goes back China to be raised by his grandparents. The parents are working so hard that they cannot fully take care of the child. The child is raised in a rural environment where discipline is a bit lax and there are a multitude of health problems. Often children come back with Hepatitis C and nutritional problems. The child also does not have any real relationship with the parents and so they tend to act rebellious. The parents still having to work day and night and trying to impose discipline find that the child must go back to China.
Sketch #32
The Church identifies and tries to alleviate some of the problems faced by the congregation and adds to the development of Chinatown. When Chinese immigrants come to New York they go to the Church because its a place where they can receive substantial help. The Church provides employment and is aware of job openings in the community, this enable the people to earn some money and get establish in Chinatown, this help also quickens the process by which the immigrants can pay back the snakeheads. Another problem that the Church clearly tries to diminish is the prejudice between groups of Chinese. Because the Church does not have a Chinese pastor, Father Nobiletti is not under the pressure of choosing allegiances. He does not have to favor the Cantonese speakers, Mandarin speakers or the Fujianese speakers like a Chinese pastor would. This ability to be fair and not separate the people adds to the tolerance between the groups. The Church also offers counseling and guidance services to aid in everyday problems, they inform the newcomers of what will or what will not put them in danger. Parenting programs and advice from the Church maintain the family relationship within the community. The Church and the community expect that the Church would do everything it can to help with family problems. The children are put into the Catholic school at the church and are given advice and mentors in hopes that the family unit might remain in tact; there are also services for parents. They have brought in individuals who can speak in Cantonese and Mandarin for people really concerned with parenting. The Church also provides various other programs that reach out to the community. There are Bible study programs, basketball teams and educational thing including the Catholic school. There is a Kids Religion program that teaches children about the Bible in English. This allows them to become familiar with the language; there are also ESL programs, which aid individuals of all ages who want to learn English. The Church offers many more activities that are beneficial to the people and unites the community.
Sketch #33
The Church has a lot to offer to the community but the greatest gift that it gives is faith. Although the people of the community face grave hardships that are not easy to overcome, the Church provides the stability and guidance that people need. All the challenges of the Chinatown community are met with faith and hope that there is a means to surpass it. The Church gives people a peace within their everyday lives; it offers a source of hope.
Sketch #34
Various factors affect the well being of a community. These things include the types of businesses in the neighborhood, the condition of the living quarters and the overall health of the community. When people start to question these factors the results usually have an affect that is felt throughout the community. Recently Chinatown has been viewed with a suspicious eye because of the SARS scare worldwide. Most SARS have occurred in the Asian communities and this makes the immigrant Asian population relatively uneasy. Despite the doctors and the medias efforts to educate the world population, Chinatown has felt the impact of fear. The concern with the spread and contamination of SARS has had serious economic consequences for parts of the American economy, particularly Chinatown. Travel agents are seeing a drop in business and the airlines are cutting back on flights to Asia. The businesses of Chinatown are suffering big losses, with some businesses reporting a 90 percent drop in revenue from this time a year ago. Some store and restaurant owners feel that the irrational and galling ethnic stereotypes along with the frightened out of town tourist keeping away from Asian American establishments have been responsible for their losses. The bigger problem for this community is that the Asian American community is turning upon itself in fear. Some residents (also in the Asian community as a whole) have changed their habits and instead of supporting the Asian American run business they do business outside their neighborhood with non-Asian merchants.
Sketch #35
With the SARS scare it seems that Chinese people have chose to distance themselves form their own Asian establishments in Chinatown. The owner of Shanghai Cuisine in Chinatown says that his only patrons now are non-Asian; before his restaurant use to be filled with white- collar immigrant Asian workers. This behavior is due to the fact that the Asian immigrant communities are more attuned to what is going on in Hong Kong and China, where they have close family and business ties. Because of the frequent communication and travel to China, immigrant Chinese often confuse what is happening in China for what is happening here (the condition of the SARS outbreak and the reaction in China is much worse than in the United States). Many immigrants in the United States are getting their information about SARS from Web sites in Hong Kong where the authorities are much more alarmed about the diseases spread. This naturally causes more worry for the Chinese immigrants in the United States because they are uncertain of what is actually the case in New Yorks Chinatown. This uncertainty has caused much of the Asian population to avoid most Chinese businesses.
Sketch #36
The fear of SARS has compromised much of the businesses in Chinatown. Public officials are trying to calm the fears. Mayor Micheal R. Bloomberg showed his support and lack of intimidation of SARS by having lunch at the Sweet and Tart restaurant in Chinatown with several Chinese business leaders. By doing this, the Mayor shows his support for the Chinese immigrant community. He encourages both Asian and non-Asian people to fight the fear of SARS and return to the restaurants and businesses of Chinatown. Despite this show of support from political leaders overcoming public anxiety has proved nearly impossible. The fear has reached a new height in the Chinese community- elderly Chinese women clean their restaurant silverware with sanitary wipes to avoid the potential of exposure to SARS; longshoremen have recently refused to unload a ship that they thought had SARS; the fear has also forced travelers to Asia to quarantine themselves (pressure comes from friends, family members and business associates) even though they show no signs of illness.
Sketch #37
As immigrants come to the United States from different parts of the world they bring their own traditional holidays, one such holiday is St. Patricks Day. This holiday along with its celebration is particular to the Irish. The holiday is celebrated on March 17th, the feast day of Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick was a missionary who converted Ireland to Christianity and this day is considered a national holiday in Ireland. Besides being widely celebrated in Ireland other cities with large numbers of people of Irish descent celebrate it. Cities like New York, with a large immigrant Irish population hold the Irish Day parade to commemorate this day. In Ireland St. Patricks Day is a mainly religious holiday where people attend special religious services and family and friends gather together. In the United States it is primarily a secular holiday. Many people wear green clothing and march in parades and prominently display the shamrock. I think, as with most immigrant groups that have immigrated to the United States for a long period of time and have been assimilated into the culture, some Irish (particularly the younger ones) do not understand the meaning of this holiday. For instance a friend of mine is very loyal to Ireland and although she and her parents were born in the United States every St. Patricks Day she dyes her hair green and goes about being proud of her heritage. When I asked her the symbolic meaning of the shamrock she could not tell me, I later found out it was the way St. Patrick taught the idea of the Trinity to the Irish. I think this idea of not knowing exactly what is your native culture is common to most immigrant cultures that have been in the United States for generations.
Sketch #38
The tidal wave of Swedish immigration began in the mid 1840s, when the first organized immigrant groups started to arrive in New York. These farmers destined to Iowa and Illinois were followed during the period up to 1930 by almost 1.3 million countrymen. Swedish immigration primarily had the same causes as the contemporary population surge from Northern and Western Europe: population pressure, economic and - above all - agricultural hardships, a profound social crisis, and widespread political and religious discontent. The first stopping point for the Swedish was New York; some continued on west where they established farms but most stayed in the cities. Chicago and Minneapolis were among the cities that the Swedish sought jobs and opportunities. The immigrants congregated in areas that were predominantly Swedish, they spoke their own language and for the most part kept their own values. The Swedish like most other immigrant groups completely turned American into their home by establishing Swedish newspapers, schools, social clubs and churches. But it was also a difficult existence in America; most immigrants had to start at the bottom of society and work their way up men got jobs as laborers and women worked as maids and seamstresses. Despite hardships the Swedish prospered and created a lasting legacy in America.
Sketch #39
A major portion of the Swedish overcame difficulties and created a standing in America. Some made careers as business men, educators artists and politicians and their achievements persists into present day America. Some of the most memorable and outstanding Swedish Americans are men like Carl Sandburg, the Illinois poet, Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly across the Atlantic, Eric Wickman, the organizer of the Greyhound Company, Glen Seaburg, the Nobel Prize winner and John Ericsson, the inventor of the propeller and the constructor of Americas first battleship (the Monitor) of the Civil War. The Swedish made great contributions to America and added to the diversity of the landscape. Although in the early enclaves Swedish language and traditions remained alive and identical to those in Sweden they slowly began to change and conform to America. Thus began the emergence of a Swedish American culture that has its roots in Sweden. The way traditions and values and even language change as an immigrant groups make a home in a new land makes you wonder how the recent immigrants (Spanish, Indian etc.) will affect American society in the years to come.
Sketch #40
What is immigration in American? In my opinion America is immigration consisting of people who hyphenate America to the end of their native country (Asian-American, European-American, African-American etc.). America is the nation whose population is all immigrants and its very culture is considered a melting pot combining cultures, races and religions. Over the years various cultural, social and ethnic groups have come to its shores to seek opportunity, economic mobility, religious and political freedoms. These waves of immigration have brought different dreams and hopes that all add and enrich Americas national character. America would not have existed as it does today without contributions from immigrants of different cultures. The idea of different people living in the same land mixing and interacting, sharing the differences and dispelling the misconceptions is something that could eventually be seen for the whole world. National boundaries do not limit toleration and strife is not caused by fear and bigotry. But something that upsets me is the way sometimes immigrants are presented in America. The land of immigrants sometimes turns its back on immigrants and regards them with much fear and misconception.
Sketch #41
Immigrants are sometimes portrayed as immoral and corrupt and there is increasing backlash against them. Politicians talk of stopping the flow of immigration, limiting the number of immigrants entering the country and screening for undesirables. A land that owes it life to immigrants, its people who have everything they have because of the opportunity they were given turn to bar the way of others. What is the reality of immigration today and what are the misconceptions that many American harbor? It seems that less than million immigrants enter the United States each year: 700,000 come as lawful permanent residents and 100,000 to 150000 enter legally fleeing persecution. Illegal immigrants constitute 1% of the total U.S population. Most illegal immigrants dont enter by crossing the boarders but enter with a visa and stay till after it expires. American is not being overrun by immigrants but is continuing a trend that has been occurring for decades. Immigrants do not degrade the society but really add to the development and mixture.
Sketch #42
One of the major reasons that immigrants come to the United States is to be reunited with families. Family sponsored immigrants enter as either immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or through the family preference system for relatives of permanent residents and siblings of U.S. citizens. Recently only 235,000 visas have been issued for immediate relatives while 226,000 have been issued under family preference program. Because they are so many immigrants who are in the United States that are separated from their family the desire to be reunited is strong. Family reunification is very a important part of the immigration policy. Keeping families apart by immigration policies is robbing the United States both economically and socially. If families are kept apart by limiting immigration policies, the family member who is in the United States would send all his earnings home and try to amass a substantial amount so that he too might return soon. This takes away from the American economy, instead of money getting recycled back into the businesses money is being taken away and sent to another country. Also America is losing a laborer or other worker when he returns home to join his family, keeping families together benefits the economy and family ties. This idea works to support and strengthen values in America. By admitting immigrant families this ensures that there are strong families who work to build strong societies.
Sketch #43
Another reason immigrants enter the United States is because they are sought out by employers. The immigration policy allows employers to bring in skilled workers from other countries when there are no qualified Americans available to fill the job. There is a need in American to attract talented and hardworking individuals from all over because they have the needed expertise and experience. This ensures that business and trade continues with more experienced hands. Throughout the history of the United States there has been a reliance on the strength, expertise and special skills of foreign workers to build the country. A primary example is the Italian craftsmen that were brought to Virginia to start the glass trade. In the mid- 1800s American manufacturers advertised in European newspapers offering free passage to any man willing to come to the United States to work for them. Immigrant workers have altered American life and their contributions were, and still are, significant to the economic growth of our nation. Immigrants do not take up the jobs that are suppose to be reserved for citizens rather they try to survive and they do so by capitalizing on their skills. They add to work force of American and contribute to Americas economy (although they earn wages they spend money on American products and use their money in the United States hence the money gets circulated).
Sketch #44
By allowing immigrants to come into the United States without much obstruction and by giving them an opportunity, America is fulfilling it obligation to freedom. By welcoming immigrants American is living up to its commitment to religious and political freedom. The Statue of Liberty shines as Americas promise to immigrants and the poem by Emma Lazarus says Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free is the pledge that in all the world there is a place where people have a safe harbor. It ensures that men and women who face poverty, ethnic cleansing, religious oppression, torture and death have a place to turn to. Because this nation was by people who were escaping some of the plights mention above its only natural and fair that it should open its doors to those fleeing the same types of oppression and horror. I think one of the responsibilities of the nation is to serve and accommodate those who are escaping from such horrors.
Sketch #45
Trans nationalism is the concept of belonging to more than one nation.
This idea is something common in the Chinese community. China is about as far as you can go around the world and so I find that this is something very interesting about the Chinese. While I find it unusual, the people of Chinatown especially the new immigrants have homes in Fujian and other parts of China. They have homes in China and the United States where part of the familys there and some is here. The immigrants go back for three or four months, and then theyll come back to their homes here. I find this unusual because I wonder where their loyalties lie. We used to talk about NYC being the home for immigrants, but it seems like in those days they came and they stayed. If they ever went back, they never came back again. The fact is that nowadays people can afford to do this, going back and forth (they can get it for $600 round trip). So, people go back and forth, and it seems that this socio-logical concept called Trans nationalism is taking over. A lot of people are no longer considered immigrants but Tran nationalists they belong to two countries, sometimes more than that. Years and years ago, it use to be only wealthy people who maintained a home here and there but more and more, immigrants are beginning to do this.
Sketch #46
Immigrants make contributions to America; besides being beneficial to the economy they continually shape and mold the fabric of its society. For example immigrants (for the most part) are firm believers in the value of family and family unity. They are also more likely to have families than natives: 76% vs. 70%. Immigrants tend to have more children and are more likely to get married showing their belief in the importance of family. The family units of most immigrants tend to stay together: only 8% of immigrants are divorced or separated compared to 11% of natives. Immigrants also place a very high value on education. While many lack a high school education, they are just as likely as natives to hold a college degree: 20. Immigrants are also twice as likely as natives to hold Ph.D.'s.
Immigrants respect the law as much, if not more, than native-born Americans. They are less likely than natives to be confined to a state prison. Among the five states with the most immigrants--California, Florida, Illinois, and New York, Texas--only New York has a greater share of immigrants in its prisons than in its general population. These are the values on which most immigrants base their lives. Immigrants are part of the culture and can be seen in every aspect of America. They are the backbone that strengthens the nation and makes America unique.
Sketch #47
Sometimes it is obvious that many natives view immigrants as people who come to the United States to make money and then return quickly to their own lands. While this is true for some immigrants some are very interested in becoming part of American society. When immigrant families come to the United States with young children, it seems that often the children assimilate at a very rapid pace. This is because parents and other family members urge and even hope that their children become functionally American and can make a good life for themselves. Rarely do parents want their children to return to their native country because they insist on their children making America a home. For these immigrants becoming American is as important as living in America. Immigrants also really want to learn English. They are willing to abandon their own tongue for the ability to speak English and become accepted in society. Reports from throughout the United States indicate that the demand for classes in English as a second language far outstrips supply. After 15 years in America, 75 percent of Spanish-speaking immigrants speak English on a regular basis. The children of immigrants, although bilingual, prefer English to their native tongue at astounding rates. This demonstrates the willingness that immigrants show to become American and part of the society.
Sketch #48
I have often heard of immigrants being a burden and strain on the American economy but I do not believe this is so. Immigrants collectively earn $240 billion a year, pay $90 billion a year in taxes, and receive $5 billion in welfare. This shows that immigrants do not put unnecessary strain on the economy but rather that they pull their own weight. The amount of money they collectively earn far outweighs the money they receive on welfare and the money they pay in taxes shows that they clearly give financial support to the nation. Also before they enter the United States immigrants must prove they wont be a burden. Compared to the native-born population immigrants are more likely to be employed, save more of their earnings and are more likely to start their own businesses. Thus immigrants do not drain the economy but enhance it by getting jobs and circulating money. They earn money through work and do not come to be on welfare systems. Because they cannot find opportunity in their own lands they come to America to get ahead and make a life where they are free from the burden they may have faced in their countries.
Sketch #49
Irish immigrants made up a major portion of the immigrants that came to the United States. Most of the Irish immigrants were peasants and laborers and it is estimated that at least four of every five who left the old country around 1850 to find a better life were the Irish. The most decisive event that started the Irish outflow from Ireland was the potato famine and cholera. These two epidemics made life in Ireland very hard and at times families could barley survive. Because of the conditions in Ireland and the quality of life some Irish looked to the new world as a source of hope and way of escaping poverty. Making the trip across the sea was not easy because many times a lot of the immigrants died upon the ships carrying them and often families were separated. As they arrived some people pushed into the mountains of the West. Theirs was a hard but communal life filled with joy and danger, wakes and county fairs. Most immigrants that arrived were Catholic and this caused tension between the Irish and Yankees. A bloody riot in Philadelphia demonstrated, the entry of the Irish into the United States was not going to be calm or peaceful. Still the Irish were determined to make a home and provide for their families; because of the prejudice that they met they lived in communities of others with their kind and continued to work. The way the Irish were treated in American is not unlike how many other groups were treated when they first settled including the Germans and Italians. I think that in the past New York was very intolerant as to who took residence in its streets and while I think this feeling is still here it is to a lesser and more subdued degree.
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