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Immigration: Myths and Realities
- 2. What do you think of when you see these images? Gwen Neu Gwen Neu Joshua DeLorenzo
- 3. Myth: The Plymouth Rock myth upholds the idea that immigrants found political and/or religious freedom in the United States. Reality: South Asian immigrants became targets of prejudice and discrimination because of their various religions. During World War I, they became targets of a political investigation relating to a conspiracy with Germans in an attempt foment a rebellion against British rule in India.
- 4. Myth: The Statue of Liberty symbolizes an America that welcomed the poorest of the world’s poor through its so-called open door. Reality: South Asians, in addition to many other immigrants from around the world, encountered ever- tightening rules against immigration of those “likely to become public charges,” meaning immigrants who arrived with very little money, possessions, and social support systems in the United States.
- 5. Myth: The Melting Pot myth puts forth the idea that the various nationalities and ethnic groups assimilated into the dominant American culture and as a result became new people. Reality: South Asian immigrants attempted to retain their culture by forming communities and following the traditions they brought with them. This desire to retain familiar habits, foods, and languages caused them to become targets of prejudice and discrimination.
- 6. Now what do you think of when you see these images? Gwen Neu Gwen Neu Joshua DeLorenzo
- 7. Conclusions: What do you think the South Asian immigrants might say about each myth? What parts of each myth have a basis in reality? How did you think those realities became myths? Why do you think it is important to understand the difference between myth and reality? What other myths might there be in U. S. history?
Editor's Notes
- Record their ideas on a large piece of paper or a word processing document for later reference.
- South Asian immigrants during the first quarter of the 20th century werepredominately Sikh, but others were Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. Observers of the Sikh faith abided by strict dress codes and held fast to their traditions, which were very foreign to Americans. Fear of these “strangers” provoked often violent hostilities against the South Asians. South Asians had the highest rate of debarment and the some of the longest detentions at Angel Island. They grew frustrated with the British government for not coming to their defense.Many students and laborers who entered the U. S. through Angel Island became active members of the drive for Indian Independence (the Ghadar movement). Although the radical activities of the Ghadarites themselves would probably not have attracted the wrath of anti-radicals in the United States, their connection with members of the German consulate during WWI did. Anti-radical sentiment of the time period brought about restrictive immigration laws that were used against many South Asian immigrants, even those not involved in the Ghadar movement.
- Immigration officials denied admission to a large number of South Asians using the exclusionary law that debarred people who were likely to become public charges.They made their own determinations regarding employability of South Asian immigrants. Immigration inspectors used the prohibition of contract labor against the immigrants by trapping them in the Special Boards of Inquiring line of questioning.The South Asian immigrants were caught between two laws.If they admitted to having work ready for them, they would be excluded on suspicion of being a contract laborer; if they did not yet have employment, they would be excluded on the grounds they were likely to become public charges.
- The first of the 20th century immigrants were laborers seeking work in the lumber mills of the Pacific Northwest.Native-born workers quickly developed a fear of competition with the South Asian immigrants.These immigrants became targets of the Asian exclusionists almost as soon as they started competing for jobs.They argued that the South Asians worked for low wages, exhibited unassimilable cultural habits, and participated in political radicalism. As South Asians confronted a growing hostility, they drifted more and more toward agricultural work for which there was little competition.The land in central California was very similar to the Punjabi region of the Indian sub-continent, so many South Asian immigrants headed there to make a life. They formed tight-knit communities and kept to themselves as much as possible.
- Compare the answers they give now to the ones they presented at the beginning of the lesson.
- These questions have no specific answers. Accept all logical ideas and let the students carry the conversation.