This chapter was very disappointing to read concerning the ill-treatment of America towards its immigrant populations. Each “Mongolian” group as they were called (Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, African Americans) all went through hell to achieve the “American ” dream, or atleast their version of it. They were discriminated against in education, social advancement and government. The most interesting arguments in my opinion was the justification of segregation through legal documentation that founded America as a nation “indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” Yet this justice was a two edged sword as immigrant groups had to denounce their culture to accept the new and “better” culture. Wiping out language and bilingual education in schools was a ridiculous concept, these people were good enough to work the land for dirt cheap labor, but not good enough to speak their language in public for fear of contamination by white-working class families. The Chinese Exclusion Act, and the foolish stipulations required for citizenship just enforced how foolish America really was as a whole. The concepts created in this chapter made me take a look at the changes that have been made to the educational system and the long distance that it still needs to go. Also, it was surprising to me that the Anglo-Protestants were so built on being a “pure” nation that they would implement the Nationalization Act based solely on citizenship for those classified as “white”, of course no other group would ever be white enough. I wonder what these Anglo-Protestant thinkers would feel about our mixed up society today? I thought it was absolutely shameful yet enlightening to read about America’s hypocrisy in all forms of this nation especially in terms of education.
Mexicans have been known by many Americans to “come here and take our jobs” after reading this chapter about the Mexican “American” struggle, do you agree with those who may feel this way? Do you think that each migrant group mentioned in the chapter has earned the term “American” alongside their home identity or do you think that the term “American” should only be for those born and bred in the United States? In terms of our educational standards today from middle school-college what subjects, if any do you feel have been impacted by these migrant group struggles, does it appear that certain topics get more instructional time or is the history an overview and not indepth concerning America’s role in earlier years?
