DISQUS

khughes1963 · 2 months ago

The areas where this is occurring have largely been ethnically homogeneous. I just remember that my ancestors, most of whom emigrated from an impoverished Ireland in the 19th century, experienced the same hostility, regardless of their legal or illegal immigration status. It is certain to me that they didn't have as burdensome an immigration process to undergo.

James Loewen's book "Sundown Towns" helps to put much of this nativist sentiment into its historical perspective. Sundown Towns were largely located in northern and western states (although there were a few in the South) where white residents used ordinances, zoning laws, discriminatory housing policies, threats and even lynching to keep Americans of color out of their lily-white towns. The townspeople who established these communities were primarily concerned about keeping African Americans out, but also wanted to prevent Asian Americans (primarily Chinese and Japanese) and Latino Americans out of their towns.

WDL · 2 months ago

Kathy, thanks for the valuable historical perspective. You're right, all of us whose ancestors came to North America from overseas have much to learn from our history. There were definitely quotas and restrictions for many immigrant groups, but I believe you are correct that these were nowhere nearly so burdensome as the ones in force today for some groups.

It also strikes me as sad that we've forgotten our own roots. We turn around and pass discrimination on, when our ancestral experience of discrimination ought to predispose us to solidarity with those now going through these experiences.

I'm glad to know of Loewen's book. I've heard of the sundown towns, but didn't know there's a book-length study of them. Some of those did exist in the part of Arkansas I mention in this posting. In fact, following the Civil War, African Americans were largely run out of some of the towns in that area, and the area remains inhospitable to people of color to this day, generally speaking.