Stereotypes Of Immigration

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According to late President Lyndon B. Johnson, “The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources--because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples.” In other words, immigrants have been and will continue to be a vital aspect of American society, helping the nation thrive as an economic powerhouse, a technological innovator, and a cultural melting pot. Especially in a city as ethnically and culturally diverse as New York City, immigrants remain at the heart of its charm and successes. Yet in recent years and throughout U.S. history, immigrants have endured various stigmas and stereotypes placed on them by politicians, media pundits, and average Joe’s alike. Hence, throughout the book From Ellis Island to JFK, Nancy Foner dispels numerous misconceptions about the current wave of immigration by comparing it to the realities of the past waves. …show more content…
During the second wave of immigration from 1880 to 1920, Eastern European and Russian Jews fell victim to poor economic conditions and virulent anti-Semitism in the region, which involved discriminatory laws and persecution (Foner, p. 20). Additionally, Southern Italians hoped to gain greater economic opportunity in America in light of the rapid technological advancement that eliminated their jobs in Italy (Foner, p. 20). Hence, by looking at these early motives for immigration, one can draw several parallels and distinctions with the motives for immigration in the modern

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