Ally Edelmann
HST 325
Guillory
March 2, 2018
Immigrants
!During the Great Depression, many immigrants dreamed of coming to
America for the nearly endless opportunities there were. They pictured a
country almost Utopic, with ample supplies of food, safe areas to live, and work
that had to be done. The U.S at this time however, was not all sugar and spice.
When foreigners came here to work, they were discriminated against. During
the Depression Era, people assumed that they were the reason for the deficit,
and blamed their joblessness on them just because they were different. People
were also racist and untrusting of immigrants based on the color of their skin
and where they came from. This was particularly hard for immigrants of color
such as latinos, asians, and africans. The darker they were, the more
‘dangerous’ , ’suspicious’, and ‘awfully different’ they were in the eyes of
Americans. Being isolated by society, in day to day life as well as in public
statements by public officials, and being marginalized by laws enacted by
Congress were all common experiences for these immigrants. The Great
Depression was not only a time of economic hardships, but also a time where
racial, cultural, and ethnic discrimination were prevalent and created an
example of ‘what not to do’ for today and the future.
Race is a term that has divided humans for our whole existence. It is a
term developed to differentiate man by skin tone and other physical differences,
but that does not mean it is something of importance. It is simply an
observational piece, and should not be used for prejudice. Most immigrants
who settled in the New England area were European, and were typically
Caucasian, giving them that ‘white privilege’ advantage. However, immigrants
who settled in the South and West of the U.S were generally latino or asian.
They received the short end of the stick, given a cold welcome of
discrimination. They did not blend in the same way the Europeans did.
Ellis Island is a historical site that opened in 1892 as an immigration
station, a purpose it served for more than 60 years until it closed in 1954. Ellis
Island. Ellis Island was the entry point for twelve million people, about three-
fourths of the migrants who entered the United States between 1892 and 1924.
in fact, it has been estimated that close to 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens
can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island (Ellis). This huge influx of
immigrants caused an odd tension between Americans and non Americans,
particularly colored ones. Once the Depression began to muster, people started
to finger-point to the most ‘obvious’ cause of their joblessness. In other words,
‘attack’ when latinos diverted from this assumption by settling in the U.S to
make a secure life. By the late 1930s, about 3 million Mexicans resided in
America. This led to extremely hateful action made by white men who did not
want them in ‘their’ country. Instances like the Zoot Suit Riots in 1943 began to
Works Cited
Ellis Island History – The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, www.libertyellisfoundation.org/ellis-
island-history.