Chap. 1-3 observations

I felt the key concept from chapter 1 was the theory about the Laws of Migration. Even though the theory was developed in the nineteenth century it is still a valid way to analyze human means of migration. I believe that the three laws of migration are in fact accurate ways to contextualize the reasons people decide to migrate. Push, Pull, and Means combine to detail why immigrants decide to leave their homes in hopes of making a fresh start in another country. I wonder which of the three reasons is the most common factor in causing migration. I know that often times these reasons work in conjunction with one another, but I wonder if one of the reasons is more prevalent than the others or if it is entirely dependent on circumstances.

I found the deconstruction of the major immigration myths to be fascinating and they really piqued my interest. I believe that in order for a nation to be created there has to exist commonly held myths that help unify citizens. Given America’s extremely diverse population this need to socialize citizens into the “cult” of America is even more pronounced. Our diversity is one of our major strengths but has the potential to be our downfall if not accounted for. Nations have to retain some sense of national unity within its citizenry, in country’s that possess a more homogenized society maintaining this balance is relatively easy. In a country that has so many people who belong to diverse ethnic groups it opens up the possibility for divided loyalties. It is for this reason that I believe the myths mentioned in chapter one are so necessary for the development of our country. Particularly, the myth of America as a cultural or ethnic “melting pot” is key to developing a sense of national identity. The idea that America is a nation of immigrants who came to this country and became one people is a powerful image that is important to how Americans view the history of our country. Even though this belief is historically inaccurate, on account of the prejudice and ethnic segregation that has always been a hallmark of the immigrant experience in the United States, it is a powerful delusion that helped forge our national identity. I believe that the “melting pot” myth could be made truly manifest, and in a limited sense has become reality, if more Americans were willing to truly buy into the idea. In a way the myth of the cultural melting pot becomes a goal, or an ideal to strive towards as a society. America and Americans should truly try to become a place that welcomes immigrants and invites them to become equal members of our society. I could not help but be reminded of the Olympics, and how America is perennially at the top of the overall medal count signifying our countries dominance across a multitude of sports. I believe that our strength in this area is not due to any inherent superiority in the world of sports, but is instead a testament to our diversity. We are good at so many sports because we welcome people from other countries who might be good at a particular event, by recruiting this person we gain someone who is talented at a sport other Americans may not typically be good at. In this way we are able to develop talent in a previously weak event for America turning it into one of strength. This highlights why I believe that diversity is such an avenue of strength for our society and helps us develop as a culture.

Reading Chapter 3 I was struck by the statement the author made about the lack of availability of primary sources that are needed to create an accurate history of the African immigrant experience. It makes me wonder how many stories were lost and what life must have been like for the average African immigrant during this period. What did Africans think about the crossing on slave ships? How did they cope with the institution of slavery? Did they have any hope for a better future or could they envision a world for their children that was did not include slavery? The African immigrant experience in the United States is an interesting one and provokes many questions for which there are no answers. The book states that the African immigrants were illiterate. I wonder if this is strictly true or if it means that the Africans did not read or write the native language of whatever country they ended up in? How can illiterarcy be determined on a group of people who had no reason or recourse to keep any written documents or records. Even if the Africans had written anything who would have preserved the work? The slaves did not send letters to family from the New World and did not have a reason to keep any written work. On the whole I found the passage in the book to be mildly insulting and it reminded me of something I read in Malcolm X’s autobiography. In X’s book he describes how schools taught that Africans were the only people in existence to produce no history or provide any ethnic legacy. At the time Malcolm X believed what he was told because he had no outside information that would contradict this assertion. It was not until later in his life when he became aware of how incorrect the idea was. I feel as though the book is in a sense perpetuating a similar set of false beliefs. At the very least I feel that some context should be provided for why African immigrants were illiterate. As it stands, the wording of the book conveys a notion that African immigrants were lacking in some way or inferior for not producing written records, which I do not believe is the actual fault of the immigrants themselves.