Immigrant New York

Catalog description

New York, also called "The Big Apple" and "The City That Never Sleeps," is a large ethnically and culturally diverse immigrant metropolis, well known for its pro-immigrant political culture and its status as a "sanctuary city." Its long-lasting immigrant tradition has been boosted by the arrival of brand-new immigrants who arrive in the city in remarkable numbers, replenishing the old immigrant groups. This course examines the history of immigration to NYC with an emphasis on the economic and political factors stimulating current immigration. Students are introduced to micro and macro levels of analysis of New York City's population growth. They explore how the city has been affected by the cultural diversity of newly arrived immigrants and how relocation to the city affects their life chances. At the end of the course, students do ethnographic research in a neighboring ethnic enclave to gain a better insight into the cultural mosaic of New York.