New immigrants facing obstacles
This feature in The New York Times caught my eye. It's about Latino immigrants struggling to make it in America in comparison to what it was like 50 years ago for other newcomers, such as Mr. Zannikos, the Greek owner of the restaurant in which Mr. Peralta works at.
At first glance, it is difficult to understand why Mr. Zannikos is currently able to make over $130,000 a year, while Mr. Peralta has been in the United States for 15 years and still finds himself at the poverty level. The circumstances in which both men immigrated here are similar: both had very little money or education when they arrived. Yet I think certain details that are contained in the following passages help shed a little light on why things are the way they are for America's newest immigrants.
When Mr. Zannikos jumped ship, he left Greece behind for good. Though he himself had no documents, the compatriots he encountered on his first days were here legally, like most other Greek immigrants, and could help him. Greeks had never come to the United States in large numbers - the 2000 census counted only 29,805 New Yorkers born in Greece - but they tended to settle in just a few areas, like the Astoria section of Queens, which became cohesive communities ready to help new arrivals.
Mr. Peralta, like many other Mexicans, is trying to make it on his own and has never severed his emotional or financial ties to home. After five years in New York's Latino community, he spoke little English and owned little more than the clothes on his back.
Perhaps on a psychological level, the fact that Mr. Zannikos was determined to adopt America as his new home (as opposed to temporary residence) helped him in the long run. Also, the relatively low influx of Greek immigrants served to create tighter communities comprised of legal residents with connections, as opposed to huge numbers of illegal immigrants crammed into one area.
For Mr. Peralta, five years of living in America without decent English skills is troubling to say the least. The self-reinforcing system of the Latino community may in fact be ruining the chances of immigrants to make it on their own. They become isolated in their own Spanish-speaking environment, constantly trying to maintain close ties to home and convinced that they will return there as soon as they are able to make enough money.
A recipe for continued failure?
At first glance, it is difficult to understand why Mr. Zannikos is currently able to make over $130,000 a year, while Mr. Peralta has been in the United States for 15 years and still finds himself at the poverty level. The circumstances in which both men immigrated here are similar: both had very little money or education when they arrived. Yet I think certain details that are contained in the following passages help shed a little light on why things are the way they are for America's newest immigrants.
When Mr. Zannikos jumped ship, he left Greece behind for good. Though he himself had no documents, the compatriots he encountered on his first days were here legally, like most other Greek immigrants, and could help him. Greeks had never come to the United States in large numbers - the 2000 census counted only 29,805 New Yorkers born in Greece - but they tended to settle in just a few areas, like the Astoria section of Queens, which became cohesive communities ready to help new arrivals.
Mr. Peralta, like many other Mexicans, is trying to make it on his own and has never severed his emotional or financial ties to home. After five years in New York's Latino community, he spoke little English and owned little more than the clothes on his back.
Perhaps on a psychological level, the fact that Mr. Zannikos was determined to adopt America as his new home (as opposed to temporary residence) helped him in the long run. Also, the relatively low influx of Greek immigrants served to create tighter communities comprised of legal residents with connections, as opposed to huge numbers of illegal immigrants crammed into one area.
For Mr. Peralta, five years of living in America without decent English skills is troubling to say the least. The self-reinforcing system of the Latino community may in fact be ruining the chances of immigrants to make it on their own. They become isolated in their own Spanish-speaking environment, constantly trying to maintain close ties to home and convinced that they will return there as soon as they are able to make enough money.
A recipe for continued failure?
posted by Remz Pokorny @ 12:18 PM
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