Some discourse communities that I consider myself to be a member of are Asian, student, female, and a New Yorker. The discourse community that would have the most connection to the artifact that I chose, The Migration Series, is a New Yorker. The Migration Series by Jacob Lawrence shows the migration of African Americans from south to north. New Yorkers would say that The Migration Series is a big factor of how New York is the way it is today. One of the northern areas that African Americans settled in during the migration period is New York. It is because of African Americans and people from other areas migrated to New York that New York became what it is best known for today: its diverse population. As a New Yorker, I agree with this and by having a  diverse population, it allowed us to have a shared culture and also shared experiences. This might also be the reason why New York is so attractive to many immigrants.

In order to understand New Yorkers, people outside this discourse community would need to know that because New Yorkers live in a populated and diverse state, New Yorkers tend to experience more than those in states that are less diverse. From the experiences gained while traveling on the subway or bus, at work or at school, or somewhere else, New Yorkers are used to absorbing ideas shared by different cultures, learning about the cultures, and appreciating them. I was twelve years old when I first got involved in this discourse community. Before coming to New York, I have been in many other states due to my parents jobs. In the beginning, I was happy to come to New York because I’ve heard many times before how good New York was. Soon my parents found a better job opportunity out of state, but because I’m already a young teen at the time and have my own ideas, they decided to ask for my opinion this time before they make any further plans. I didn’t want to move again because I like being a New Yorker, the lifestyles here, the easy transportation, the diversity of student population in schools, and etc. Also, in New York, it is more easier to meet new people. However, my parents believed that I would receive a better education out of state where there’s not as many distractions. We talked it through one night and fortunately, I’m still a member of this discourse community.