After reading this chapter it is clear to see the circumstances Asians, Mexicans, African, Native Americans, and Puerto Ricans had to face upon arrival to America. The overall conditions they faced were horrifying. Due to the overall treatment of the ethnic groups, their schooling was affected in a negative way. The text states, “Segregated schools, housing, and discrimination in employment became the “Mexican American heritage.”
Sadly, throughout the chapter all groups were in comparison with African Americans. I feel African Americans were degraded the most, in any circumstance. For example, Frederick Law Olmsted considered the Mexicans “lower class” and initiated the perspective of them “taking black women as wives and to steal horses.” It’s a shame that one ethnic group can be dehumanize, on a continuing basis. Another example of degrading the African American individuals, along with other groups, is the issue amongst Chinese immigrants. The text explains it as the Chinese, “caught between their own racist feelings and southern racial politics.
In addition to the emotional abuse they faced, State authorities decided to make Chinese send their children to segregated black schools. The San Francisco school board insisted, “Mongolian children are prohibited into specific schools. Since discrimination existed amongst ethnic groups in the past, and segregated school existed, do you think the same system of operation exist, in this present educational system? In other words, many schools have a dominant race amongst the school body; do you think that influences a teacher, professor way of teaching? Or do they teach any type of way, with remembrance of the past?
Also, if we make many accommodations in higher education, as well as elementary schools to provide a “Safe, comforting, educational environment” for transfer students like myself in the school setting, should we do the same for individuals from other countries?Or should we make them suffer not only in society but for a great education?(Keeping in mind, we are students who have an educational background which gave us the freedom of learning what we need to know for higher grade levels.)
Lastly, my family is Guyanese and I am aware of the term “Coolie.” After hearing family jokes, or different stories with no background information, as to what the word really represented, I was enlightened how it was used in the text. A “coolie” was one of the descriptions for Asian Americans, and it modeled the minority image. For years, I was unaware Asian Americans were considered “Coolie.” The text gives some absurd reasoning as to how many others BELIEVED they would be deprived of the American dream; due to the “Coolie” lifestyle.
