Author: Lily Shorney

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Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA We Wanted Workers Ch.5

Throughout Chapter 5 of Borjas’ We Wanted Workers, he focuses on the concept of economic assimilation and how this differs from assimilation in other areas of life. Borjas begins by addressing the idea that immigrants who have been in the country longer have significantly higher levels of economic assimilation than those who are newer to the country. However, he then goes on to quote Huntington from his book Who Are We? in which he points out that Mexican immigrants are assimilating at a much slower rate and much less than other immigrants in the past. From here he goes on to address this perceived “slow down” of assimilation of immigrants in the United States. He explains an interesting phenomenon in which the immigrants in the two major waves of immigration, before 1920 and after 1980, do not assimilate particularly fast or well. In fact, it is the immigrants who came in between these periods of time, when there were heavy immigration restrictions, that assimilated the most. In order to address this phenomenon and further explain it, Borjas defines ethnic enclaves. This is the concept that if there is an immigrant ethnic group concentrated in a specific area in the receiving country, there is less need or desire to assimilate to the country’s culture. Therefore, considering that the waves contained a great number of immigrants, there are more people who tended to cling together and could get by without assimilating. When applying this to the mass Mexican immigration, Borjas makes a point to state that the Mexican immigrants are not in a unique position because they are Mexican. They are in a unique situation because of the amount of them, the skills that they bring with them, and the concentration of them in various parts of America. It is important to recognize that based on immigration theory, the Mexicans are performing exactly how one would expect them to perform. 

When moving forward and attempting to address immigration in the future, it seems to me that Borjas would possibly present that the United States should restrict immigration to a certain extent in order to promote assimilation. However, I struggle with this morally. While I do understand that economically, this is a viable step, I feel that it may not be in line with American values and our national identity. I am curious to hear other people’s opinions about this question. What do you think Borjas would suggest for the future? What do you think is the best next step?

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Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

“Building Walls”

When reading through the first two chapters of George J. Borjas’ We Wanted Workers, I found myself intrigued by Lennon’s Utopia and Borjas’ suggestion that this is a game of imagine. He presents an especially clear argument in order to expose the fact that the utopia that is said to arise from immigration is not a reality. He suggests that this is because immigrants are not robots of all the same value, instead they are real people, and people make choices that influence countries. While I concede with this idea, Borjas goes on to make the statement that receiving countries of immigrants are being strategic and from what I gathered from his book, smart when they refuse an open-door policy and decide to build a wall in order to keep immigrants out. This statement made me uncomfortable because while I do understand where he is coming from, I do not believe that building a wall around our country, whether legitimate or metaphorical, will solve any of the issues that are being faced as a result of both legal and illegal immigration. I also believe that this suggestion violates many of the values of the country, as well as my own person values. We are a country that values individualism, freedom, equality, and work ethic. These ideals make up our national identity as we have discussed in class and discovered through Huntington’s Who Are We?. In my view, building a wall in order to keep potential immigrants out does not coincide with these values.

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Short Essays and Responses

Short Essay 4

Through the introduction of the institution of slavery, the unique situation of American blacks was formed. Once Africans were thrown onto the slave ships, they experienced a loss of ethnic identity. These people were no longer defined by their individual tribes and groups, instead race was formed and they became labeled simply as “black.” When they reached America, they were understood as commodities, not worthy of being titled human. As time has passed, progress has been made. Blacks were freed from slavery and now have the rights of white Americans. However, as Wax alludes to in Race, Wrongs and Remedies it is evident that there are still great discrepancies between the lives of blacks and whites in America that are remnants of the past. Considering that the United States of America was settled by Anglo-Protestants, and is therefore rooted in cultural ideals including self-reliance, self-improvement, and the work ethic, it is necessary to consider whether these values hold true today for all Americans, including blacks. We can effectively understand aspects of the situation of American blacks through the Anglo-Protestant view of American identity. Historically disadvantaged groups are not entirely powerless, however a balance between systematic changes and individual changes must be implemented. 

As previously established, the particular situation of American blacks is a result of past events, such as slavery. Through time, improvement has occurred. For example, blacks were eventually freed from slavery, given the right to vote, segregation came to an end, and there have been many attempts to establish institutional diversity. It is important to note that many improvements and steps forward have come from individual demands and protests. For example, as a result of the Civil Rights Movement, in which many groups came together to gain more rights for American blacks, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. This act ended public segregation and employment discrimination. This structural and governmental change would never have occurred without the influence of individuals who stepped up and fought for their rights. Through Wax’s novel, she argues that it is now on the shoulders of American blacks to remedy the discrimination that prevails in America against them. However, as can be seen in the case of the Civil Rights Movement, it is a combination of societal changes and individual changes that most effectively lead to change. 

Another situation in which it is clear that American blacks are not entirely powerless to help themselves is that of mass incarceration. There are significantly more black Americans in jail than any other race or ethnicity in the country. This could most definitely be a result of racism and discrimination, and arguably is. Therefore, it is necessary for this discrimination to be eradicated. However, this cannot occur unless citizens force systematic changes. Wax argues that it is the responsibility of American blacks to change their point of view, escape the psychology of victimization, and change their behavior. But it is necessary to recognize that just because more black Americans are in jail does not necessarily indicate that they are committing any more crimes than other races, it only indicates that they are the ones most often caught and penalized for crime. In this case, behavior may not be the only aspect of the situation that needs to be altered. Therefore, it is not entirely up to the individual to make changes, but it is an important aspect for effective progress. Individual efforts and behavioral alterations can lead to necessary structural changes.

It can be stated that the position of black Americans in the country today is a result of the past and conceptions of race that were placed on these people. However, as Wax states, this does not render black Americans powerless in the steps toward progress. Of course their position in society was not created by themselves, and therefore in an ideal world they would be restored to equality without having to contribute to this restoration, but a combination of structural changes and individual effort is most effective. The original Anglo-Protestant view of American identity, self-reliance, self-improvement, and work ethic, is compatible with future progress of historically disadvantaged groups such as black Americans. It has an important role in this progress, however it is not the only strategy that should be implemented.

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Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

Color Blindness

After listening to Amy Wax express her opinions and thoughts over Skype in class today, I was especially stuck by her statement that “color blindness is a good policy.” While I do concede that personal responsibility and behavior is a part of the solution, Wax seems to believe that it is entirely in the victim’s hands to remedy the situation. Through my Africana Studies class last year I have come to formulate the position that color blindness is not an effective policy. The unique situation of blacks in America today is of no fault of their own, and in order to restore them to the state in which they were before they were wronged, it is necessary to recognize their disadvantage and their cultural cycle. We cannot assume that black Americans have the same opportunities as white Americans and treat them as such. Even those that are making great efforts to change their position and behavior are often unsuccessful or face great obstacles. They are at a disadvantage by no fault of their own and it is necessary to keep this is mind in all aspects of life.

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Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA Race, Wrongs, and Remedies pp. 1-33

In the beginning of Amy Wax’s book titled Race, Wrongs, and Remedies, she begins to formulate an argument about the issue of race in America and the ways in which this problem is being addressed. In the first section of the first chapter, she relays the concept of the remedial ideal. She explains that this is the idea that when someone experiences disadvantage or damage because of an external force, that external force is responsible for making the victim whole again and for making efforts to remedy the damage. This ties into the concept of “victim blaming.” This point of view does everything in its power to avoid victim blaming. Because the victim was not the cause of their own effect, ideally they are not held responsible for what has happened to them and as a result are not responsible for the cure. 

After having established this as the ideal, Wax goes on to recognize that this concept and ideal situation is often not fully achieved. She argues that instead, sometimes the victim must be a part of the healing process. This is the case in the issue of race relations in the United States. Wax claims that there are many who believe that the problem is due to prevailing racism today, others who believe that racism is structurally innate in America, and others who believe that the race issues are mostly behavioral at this point. Because of the remedial ideal, each of these viewpoints have found ways to argue that solutions come from the external world rather than within the individual. However, Wax points out that even if change is made on the outside, it is still up to the individual to accept this change and respond effectively. 

While I most definitely concede that individuality plays an important role in solving the issue of race in America, I am wary about the amount of importance that Wax places on this aspect. I believe that race issues are still extremely pervasive in American culture and see them playing out in various industries. Some of these include different workplaces such as the film industry and the political scene. It seems clear to me that black Americans are often absent from these industries, despite the fact that many may be working hard to enter them. For example, there are many black directors and actors who do not ever enter the mainstream film culture, and this is not for lack of trying. It is often simply because their pieces do not align with the norms of the mainstream film industry. This makes me wonder to what extent individual responsibility can truly eradicate discrimination. I believe that while it is necessary for a solution, external progress is still imperative in order to create equality between races.