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19 February 2008
Professor Diner Discusses Immigration and American Diversity
Ask America webchat transcript, February 19
New York University history professor Hasia Diner answered questions in a February 19 webchat on immigration to the United States and its impact on American diversity.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
U.S. Diversity: Immigration and Assimilation
Guest: Hasia Diner
Date: February 19, 2008
Time: 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT)
Moderator: Welcome to our webchat! You may begin submitting your questions now. The live webchat will begin at 12:00 EST / 17:00 GMT.
Moderator: We'll be getting started in just a moment!
Hasia Diner: Welcome to all participants. I look forward to your questions about the history of immigration to the United States and the impact of that centuries-long history on American diversity. Hasia Diner
Question [selinawang]: Hello. We all know that America is a nation of immigrants. This is a big difference between the U.S. and the other countries in the world. I think maybe this is one of the reasons why there is still jim crowism in America. What do you think? If you don't think so please tell me what do you think is the reason of it. Thanks a lot.
Answer [Hasia Diner]: I am not sure I would say that "Jim Crowism" exists in America. It surely did and because African Americans and other non-whites, particularly Mexicans did endure constant and systematic segregation and exclusion from the rights of citizenship, European immigrants historically had many options open to them, despite their foreignness. But the American legal system has been so thoroughly overhauled as to bear no resemblance to the one that existed. While I would not say that informal discrimination does not exist and that prejudice does not play a role in public life, Jim Crow has specific historical meaning and with those meanings salient, we can say, it is dead.
Moderator: Hasia Diner is a contributing author to the latest edition of the State Department's "eJournalUSA: Immigrants Joining the Mainstream." You can read her article on Immigration and U.S. History at:
http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itsv/0208/ijse/diner.htm
Q [Chat Participant]: One additional question: To what extent US allows for ISOLATION versus ASSIMILATION? I mean to say, can immigrant community live it toal seclusion and be succesful, happy, et.
A [Hasia Diner]: Immigrant communities in the United States may for the most part exist in whatever degree of isolation they want, keeping certain matters in mind. Schools run by immigrant or religious communities --private schools-- still must conform to state educational requirements, for example. So long as those schools provide a full-time education, in the place of public schools, then they have to follow state guidelines.
But the ethnic communities -- the leaders and those who choose to participate in those communities and their activities-- are free to be as integrated or isolated as they choose. Clearly economic and political benefits accrue to those women and men who master English and participate in the political process, including voting, running for office, and the like. This then pushes immigrants and their children towards integration. But ultimately the choice is theirs. Should they choose to not partake of the economic or political benefits of the society, they are free to, in the most part, eschew integration. But if they want those benefits, they have to move towards integration. It is, however, an integration of their choosing, as is membership in the ethnic community.
Q [Chat Participant]: Hello. Does US have same problem as France with a class of immigrants unhappy with the host nation? If no, then what explanation do you have for a lack of upheaval. Is it assimilation?
A [Hasia Diner]: No, the United States does not have the same problem as France has. The United States has a deep and intense history of immigration and ethnic affiliation.
Many --possibly most- Americans see themselves as having immigrant "roots" and they voluntarily claim some kind of ethnic identity. They see the newest immigrants as fundamentally no different than their own grandparents or ancestors who also came from 'someplace else" and found ways to integrate. For France immigration from abroad is relatively new and recent. It involves the legacy of colonialism and it, France, has long been a society with a clear and powerful idea of what constitutes being French. Its insistence on "fraternite"--the brotherhood of all French people-- has made ethnic diversity a problem. The United States with its more ambiguous ideas about "being American" allows for much more flexibility and appreciation of diversity. This means that immigrants and their children today are familiar and do not have to battle a hegemonic culture with a fairly rigid definition of national identity. Historically anyone (white) could become American. Now, any legal immigrant, regardless of where he or she came from, can do so as well. The recent election of the son of Indian immigrants to the governorship of Louisiana provides a telling example of this.
Q [nacerdine]: I would like to ask about diversity visa.
A [Hasia Diner]: I am sorry but I am not an expert on current policies and procedures.
Q [Bautechniker]: Hey there, I have a question and wanted to know where in the US I can acknowledge my foreign education and graduation.
Thanks for helping me out!
A [Hasia Diner]: I am not an expert on current policies. Each state has its own policies, procedures, and agencies to handle this.
Q [Kuba]: Dear Ms. Diner, In the history of immigrants will you say that now, the Latino wave is the most influential on America as compared to earlier groups that were changed by America? How do you respond
A [Hasia Diner]: No, I would not say that. If we could transport ourselves to the middle of the nineteenth century, we would ask the same question about the Irish, for example. One of the key matters in US immigration history is that there have been --and are-- so many groups all migrating at the same time, and each making its impress on the larger society. Ironically, from the point of view of studying immigration, there really is not such group as "Latino." There are Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans, and so on. Each group has a distincitve migration pattern, distinctive modes of community building, political affiliaton, places of residence and the like. They may all speak Spanish and come from Central or South America, but that tells you little about them. The term is essentially a political construct and not one which sheds much light on crucial issues.
Q [Kuba]: Do you think English will remain the dominant language of US? Is it possible for US to become dual language state?
A [Hasia Diner]: No historian should predict the future! I have no idea what will be but if the past is any guide, Americans have been committed monoliguals and it is hard to imagine a change in this. For one thing there are too many immigrants from too many places to make this seem likely. Secondly, the children of immigrants from around the world become English speakers themselves. They may retain some Chinese, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic, and the like, but they are first and foremost English speakers. There is no resistance to English learning by immigrant parents and immigrant communities and all recognize the power of the one language as the vehicle to foster economic mobility -- the point and goal of the massive migrations.
Moderator: We're still accepting your questions. However, today's webchat is in English.
Hasia Diner: It has been a pleasure to be part of this chat. Hasia Diner
Moderator: We wish to thank Hasia Diner for joining us today. The webchat is now closed. A full transcript of today's webchat will be published (usually within one business day) to our Ask America Homepage at: http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html
(Speakers are chosen for their expertise and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of State.)
Moderator: Hello "Wari"! I'm sorry but our webchat speaker had to depart the chatroom early.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
