In the history; the very personality; of New York City; few events loom larger than the wave of immigration at the turn of the last century. Today a similar influx of new immigrants is transforming the city again. Better than one in three New Yorkers is now an immigrant. From Ellis Island to JFK is the first in-depth study that compares these two huge social changes. A key contribution of this book is Nancy Foner’s reassessment of the myths that have grown up around the earlier Jewish and Italian immigration—and that deeply color how today’s Asian; Latin American; and Caribbean arrivals are seen. Topic by topic; she reveals the often surprising realities of both immigrations. For example: Education: Most Jews; despite the myth; were not exceptional students at first; while many immigrant children today do remarkably well.Jobs: Immigrants of both eras came with more skills than is popularly supposed. Some today come off the plane with advanced degrees and capital to start new businesses.Neighborhoods: Ethnic enclaves are still with us but they’re no longer always slums—today’s new immigrants are reviving many neighborhoods and some are moving to middle-class suburbs.Gender: For married women a century ago; immigration often; surprisingly; meant less opportunity to work outside the home. Today; it’s just the opposite.Race: We see Jews and Italians as whites today; but to turn-of-the-century scholars they were members of different; alien races. Immigrants today appear more racially diverse—but some (particularly Asians) may be changing the boundaries of current racial categories. Drawing on a wealth of historical and contemporary research and written in a lively and entertaining style; the book opens a new chapter in the study of immigration—and the story of the nation’s gateway city.
#1807164 in Books 1997-10-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.12 x 6.40 x 9.46l; #File Name: 0300069707352 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Book - Turns the Idea of Southern Patriarchy on it's HeadBy ChristinaI read and used this book as part of the historiography for a research project I just completed. Hodes provides truly groundbreaking research and insight to the scholarship of American slavery. Historians from the mid-20th century offer an approach that focuses the experience of the slave master; therefore dismissing or glossing over these taboo relationships Hodes uncovers in her book. The past few decades have offered an emergence of feminist historians; like Hodes; who delve into these illicit encounters. I found this book to be highly "readable;" as I got caught up in reading it during my spare time (prior to implementing it into my own work).0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy LangVery informative book2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Interracial sex in the slave holding southBy Theresa M. MerrittVery interesting collection of examples of the "taboo" subject of interracial relationships in the highly volatile environment of the slave-holding South. Though provoking.
