Racial+Tension+and+Immigration+Block+D

RACIAL TENSION AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES

INTRODUCTION:
====As the nation encompassed an era of industrialization, rapid economic growth manifested the idea of an “American Dream” soon sought by millions of immigrants that flowed into the United States. Despite a source of cheap labor and diverse culture provided by this massive influx of immigrants, their movement into the country caused racial tensions, often resulted by competition in employment, pre-existing racist attitudes that fixated a stereotype of “native superiority,” and overpopulation of such a diverse group. While a few people believed the need to resolve such racial problems, a majority of the working class constantly emphasized segregation; this controversial response to immigration and the mixture of other races exacerbated the difficulty to solve the issue in order to satisfy everyone. ====

The Problem:
Striving for the “American Dream,” millions of immigrants entered the “land of opportunity.” But during their journey, they had also brought their culture--so intricately different from that of the “natives.” Due to such differences, the immigrants were socially discriminated as it was merely impossible for them to naturally blend in with the Americans.
 * 1. Cultural Clashes **

After the Irish Potato Famine left the country in devastation in 1845, approximately 2 million Irish people left their homeland for Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, seeking for stable shelter and sustenance. Of this population, a great number of Irish immigrants moved to the United States, later suffering harsh treatment due to their Catholic and impoverished identities. Because a majority of the nation’s population followed Protestantism, such contrasting religion was not a socially appealing factor. Due to their mass influx and religious differences, the “Know-Nothing” party was established in 1849, already foreshadowing an agitated response to immigration as a whole. 

As more and more immigrants flowed into the nation over the years, tension between the “native” Americans and immigrants aggravated. However, a lack of education made it even more difficult for immigrants to adapt to American society which ultimately forced them to establish communities consisting of their own kind. These “cliques,” such as Chinatown and Little Italy, further isolated such immigrant population from the “natives” by continuing with their own traditions, language, and culture. However, most of these communities were of poor quality, characterized by unsanitary slums. Some immigrants, considering their economic situation, were forced to live on the streets. Even without a racist stereotype, it became strenuous to communicate and relate to these new citizens of America. Thus, these cultural clashes actually provoked more racism, caused by an unwillingness and awkwardness around immigrants.  Around the 1850s, an influx of Chinese immigrants arrived to the United States, seeking for the Gold Rush in the West. With great disappointment, they soon realized that their dreams were not easily going to come true. Thus, Chinese immigrants began working at mines and railroads, building the Central Pacific Railroad. Yet, considering these Asians’ endless efforts and diligence, the other workers began to feel resentment towards the exacerbated competition that reduced the possibility of employment. However, Chinese isolation through the establishment of “Chinatowns” even further worsened racial disputes, soon entitled with “paddies” and “coolies”--both derogatory labels nominated by the “native” American class.

On the other hand, African Americans were dealing with similar issues. Despite the abolishment of slavery through the 13th amendment after the Civil War, African Americans still suffered through racial discrimination. The Jim Crow laws established in 1876 were merely reciprocals of the norm, “racial equality,” actually encouraging segregation of whites from blacks in public facilities. Furthermore, the court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, judged that “separate, but equal” facilities were constitutional, providing legal jurisdiction to isolate African Americans, as well as immigrants, from the native population. Unfortunately, these facilities were by no means “equal,” since most of the “white” facilities were invariably better than those of “blacks.”  Racism regarding African Americans was more historical, as it extended way back into the era of slavery, which strongly provoked a sense of inferiority against this group. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1875 attempted to prohibit segregation, Supreme Court judged this act unconstitutional, further representing society’s view against racial equality.

But beyond the sole result of racial discrimination, such segregation dilutes the opportunities for African Americans and immigrants to prosper, increasing the possibility of greater poverty. Because a specific classism is formed, with the immigrants and African Americans at the bottom, this further widens the gap between the rich and the poor, as these groups will never be able to advance without proper education and the acknowledgement of equal rights.

Many immigrants and African Americans were not fully aware of the political construction of the United States unfortunately due to a lack of education and a state of isolation from American society. Using such circumstances as an opportunity, numerous city bosses--corrupt political forces--used immigrants’ votes to control city governments. Corrupt political leaders such as Boss Tweed bribed immigrants with sustenance and shelter to earn their votes for election. This system aggravated political corruption, placing immigrants under blame due to an already enhanced bias against them.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">2. Political Adversity **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The late 19th century was marked by a number of segregation laws that heightened racial tension. The Immigration Act of 1890 limited the number of people who could enter the United States by discriminating against the mentally retarded, physically ill, and paupers. The 1896 Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson enforced segregated facilities, claiming that immigrants and African Americans were “separate but equal”. In addition, the Jim Crow Laws had been enacted based on the same claim regarding segregation, which placed subordinate conditions for African Americans. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Although immigrants were being used in a beneficial way for certain politicians, the government was stringent on immigration, mostly due to the overarching remonstration of the “native” population angered by excessive competition and unemployment due to these immigrant workers. The Grandfather Clause, though completely contradicting the 15th amendment, restricted suffrage rights for those whose grandfathers were able to vote. This practically meant that newly arrived immigrants could not partake in voting procedures. Such political discrimination further encouraged racism. Furthermore, literacy tests were administered in the South to judge a person’s eligibility to vote. These tests were often biased because they were unnecessarily difficult for immigrants and African Americans, thus denying suffrage to them.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Four decades after the bloodiest war in American history, African Americans were free, de jure. Yet, in practice, African Americans were still confined by old ideas of inferiority. With millions of immigrants chasing their own dreams, competition in small labor market grew more fierce. Hence, the owners cared less about individual workers without the worry of potential strike threats.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">3. Economic Hardships **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Through flourishing businesses and innovative technologies applied, the United States experienced economic boom while individual workers faced harsh conditions. As machines replaced many laborers, the labor market became more competitive and cheap. Due to cheap price of labor and abundance of unemployed workers, it became easy to replace workers causing deteriorating working conditions and rights. Upton Sinclair discusses the hardships that immigrant workers had to suffer in his novel The Jungle. Harsh working conditions and low wages were the dead-end of the opportunities that immigrants chased for. However, immigrants replaced the “natives” as they were relatively cheaper causing further tensions among people. Therefore, immigrants were the cause of the rising unemployment rate of white Americans. They also took the jobs that white Americans avoided: mainly unskilled and low paying jobs that were often called 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous and demeaning). The reverse discrimination in workforce caused discrimination in society. The Immigration Act of 1891 limited the influx of immigrants and increased the level of new immigrants, but the tension between the natives and immigrants arose. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, America’s effort to protect natives’ working positions can be insinuated.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">With Booker T. Washington’s argument that African Americans should achieve economic independence, African Americans somewhat admitted their inferiority. W.E.B. DuBois’s talented tenth program also insinuates the uneducated state of African Americans, as it placed much emphasis on “the higher education of Negro youth”. Both agreed that the way to economic development was education: the Tuskegee Institute was found to educate African Americans. African Americans were mainly unskilled laborers and farmers working in sharecropping system. Hence, their wages were low and were easily replaced.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">“...is that in the great leap from slavery to freedom we may overlook the fact that the masses of us are to live by the productions of our hands, and fail to keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labor, and put brains and skill into the common occupations of life. … It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">- Booker T. Washington

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">“But so far as Mr. Washington apologizes for injustice, North or South, does not rightly value the privilege and duty of voting, belittles the emasculating effects of caste distinctions, and opposes the higher training and ambition of our brighter minds, so far as he, the South, or the Nation, does this, we must unceasingly and firmly oppose them. By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men, clinging unwaveringly to those great words which the sons of the Fathers would fain forget: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." " <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">- W.E.B. DuBois

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">What can be solved? >
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Reduction of language/cultural barriers to promote unity
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Discouragement of all discriminatory acts/laws
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Regulate corruption targeting immigrants.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Issue of the “natives” avoiding low paying and difficult jobs
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Poor working condition and lack of protection of workers
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The increasing immigrant population and them taking jobs increase unemployment rate of the “natives.” This causes racial tension among people.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">What can't be solved?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Religious disputes cannot be settled easily; with the influx of different languages and customs, religion would be another aspect that would be difficult to unify. This would need government intervention in the religious sector, possibly either promoting or discouraging a specific faith. However,this would go against the Bill of Rights.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Completely eliminating racial bias is impossible for a short-term period, because such feelings for a specific race are internal decisions made by each individual, as well as a cultural belief. It is possible to discourage racism through social collaboration and laws, but the entire elimination of it will take more than centuries.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Deporting current immigrants would be unrealistic and impractical as the ones currently living in America are settled, and would stir chaos.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">ROOT OF THE PROBLEM: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The immigrants and African Americans are inevitably susceptible to harm, yet the government is not taking action specifically targeted on those groups other than implementing the segregation laws. The government must execute specific programs in order to help the immigrants adjust to a new life in America politically, economically, and socially.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Plan: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> 1905 Act of Racial Equality **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1. Education for All: This clause would make education more affordable for all rather than making it accessible for the privileged classes.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> This plan applies to both academic and vocational education but restricted to government-run institutions.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> Government promotes high-reaching education for all.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> Extend network of community educational institutions. Strengthen their programs.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> One of primary goals of education must be to widen the views of all groups of people of society.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> Help promote meritocratic society.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">2. Fair Pay and Treatment: This clause would ensure opportunity for all in the workplace.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> All employees of any background have the right and power to file discrimination in workplace.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Levy fine on the supervisor of the workplace if the selection of workers is discriminatory towards immigrants and African Americans.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> All reports will be read by government workers.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> Such reports are cumulative. All reports goes in the the “Workplace Score.” Workplaces with high scores receive assistance(when necessary) from government.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> According to the degree of mistreatment and number of filing of a workplace, following disciplinary actions will be taken.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Tax cuts for the alleviation of financial burdens for factories and companies as they need to hire more people.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;"> Recommend training session for workplace employers and supervisors.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Provide childcare centers in the workplace for immigrant families with working parents.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">All of minimum wage law, medical insurance law, workplace protection law, and maximum work hour law apply to immigrant workers.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">All immigrant workers’ necessary information should be registered. Those who are not registered cannot be hired. When hired, the employer and workplace will be punished.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">3. Improvements of Immigrant Rights

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">a.Counseling and Education:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Provide affordable vocational, English, and cultural education.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Affordable counseling service for immigrant workers for whatever living problem they have will be available 24/7.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Affordable education programs will be available district by district.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">b.Medical Treatment: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">c.Break Cultural Isolation:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Free medical booths for immigrants.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Cost-free medical check-ups will be available for foreign workers.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Plan events that both Americans and immigrants can form rapport.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Opportunity to understand each other’s culture.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">d.Newspaper for Immigrants
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">To bring voices of immigrants together to society.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">e. Literacy tests:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 1.5;">A fair literacy test would be administered to determine whether immigrants should be granted citizenship rather than to determine the voting eligibility. The literacy test would prevent biased selection of immigrants who are admitted; it would instead put a reasonable limit to the number of immigrants entering, and would increasingly select more immigrants who are proficient in the English language and are skilled workers.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Works Cited

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