From Ellis Island to JFK : New York's two great waves of immigration /

This original history compares the stream of immigrants to one location, New York City, over two historical eras: 1880-1920 and the current one that began in 1965. The earlier wave from Europe contrasts with the current wave of newcomers mainly from Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This broad comparison provides a better sense of the impact of immigrants on NYC over time as well as how immigrants themselves have been transformed in the process. Foner tests the validity and applicability of the theories and frameworks used to study earlier immigrants on the current wave, examining immigrant integration into the local and global economics; residential patterns, ethnic enclaves, and neighborhood revitalization; occupations and work; and education. Of particular interest is the question of race and racialization (how racialized Jews and Italians eventually became "white" and whether new Asian immigrants may follow this trajectory); transnationalism in the context of globalization in late capitalism; and the changing demographics, lives, and work of immigrant women. Based largely on an extensive list of published works, with little archival research or fieldwork of her own, Foner has produced a well-written and jargon-free scholarly study that is also accessible to the general interest reader. E. Hu-DeHart; University of Colorado at Boulder

Between 1880 and 1920, a great wave of immigrants added a million and a half newcomersDmostly eastern European Jews and southern ItaliansDto New York City's population. Now a new wave of immigrants, this time mostly Asians, Latin Americans, and West Indians, is transforming the city again. Drawing on a wealth of sources, Foner (anthropology, SUNY at Purchase) has compared the two eras and their immigrant groups. She has analyzed the social changes they have made in the city and also has tried to dispel what she calls myths about immigrants then and now: contrary to the received wisdom, Foner contends that Jews were not at first exceptional students, whereas many immigrant children today are doing remarkably well. Also, while ethnic enclaves are still found in New York, they aren't all slums. Many neighborhoods have been revived by immigrants. Recommended for immigration and New York City collections of academic libraries.DHarry Frumerman, formerly with Hunter Coll., New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A well-documented and scrupulously researched look at New York City's two greatest waves of immigration. Foner (Anthropology/Purchase Coll.) compares and contrasts the experiences of the largely Jewish and Italian immigrants at the turn of the century with those of New York's current Asian, Latin American, and West Indian newcomers. Whereas only a minuscule amount of earlier immigrants were professionals, today's represent every class and occupational background--from farmers and factory workers to physicians and engineers. In fact, over half of the Indians, Filipinos, and Taiwanese arriving on our shores today have college degrees (a larger percentage than white New Yorkers have). And whereas earlier immigrants who fled untenable circumstances were often viewed as heroes, today's undocumented immigrants who have risked all and arrived illegally are often stigmatized and unwanted. Particularly interesting is Foner's examination of the prejudice faced by members of both waves of immigrants. At the turn of the century, Jews and Italians were viewed as inferior "mongrel" races and, although higher in status than African-Americans or Asians, were deemed to be racial pollutants. Prominent social scientists wrote about the Jews' innate love of money and the Italians' inborn instability. Today it's the darker-skinned immigrants--both West Indians and dark-skinned Latinos--who confront the most bias. Intent on shattering romantic, idealized stereotypes of earlier immigrants (whom she refers to as "folk heroes of a sort"), Foner consistently challenges the misconceptions that make the current immigrants suffer by comparison. Among these are the alleged educational successes of early immigrants, particularly Jews; in fact, during the early 1900s, few Jews attended high school and even fewer graduated. Less than one percent ever reached the first year of college. And while earlier immigrants were shamefully coerced into adopting American ways, today's attend schools where their culture is celebrated as an element of a multicultural curriculum. As enlightening as it is entertaining: a worthwhile addition to the field of popular anthropology. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.