Conversation on newcomers is deserving
The movie "Gangs of New York" shows just how fearful the natives get when new groups arrive from foreign shores. In this case, it's the newly arrived Irish who are feared by the English and Dutch, and fear turns into slaughter.
White against white. English Protestant against Irish Catholic. It seems almost simple when you consider the complexity of America today. The new immigrants are of many colors and languages, arriving from exotic lands like Somalia, Guyana and the Sudan.
In Massachusetts, 40 percent of the foreign-born population arrived in the last decade. Last November's vote favoring English immersion over bilingual education is undoubtedly a response to the sudden arrival of so many newcomers.
If the natives are overwhelmed by the changes, this does not mean they are racist. Many cities and towns don't have the means or ways of understanding how to manage this great demographic change, according to Miren Uriarte of UMassBoston. The word racist cuts off the conversation and people's fears go underground, when we need to talk openly and freely.
Two of the most fascinating immigrant stories are taking place in Schenectady, N.Y., with the Guyanese, and in Lewiston, Maine, with the Somalians. While I was in Schenectady last month (my home town), I followed the story of the Guyanese in the local newspaper, where the worries of both sides were thoroughly aired. Schenectady was once known as "the city that lights and hauls the world," but the lights went out when General Electric downsized. The loss of work and young people has been catastrophic for the area. Recently the city began aggressively recruiting new businesses, a winning strategy that called for a new workforce.
The mayor went down to Queens, N.Y., and recruited young Guyanese workers who are black and English-speaking (originally from Guyana, bordering on Venezuela). They came, they saw, they stayed. Today they are buying and fixing up long-neglected properties. With a strong work ethic and strong families, they are bringing the city back to life.
Are there problems? Absolutely. Does everybody like the idea of 2,000 Guyanese suddenly moving in? Of course not. Many natives are fearful of being displaced and resent the Guyanese for getting breaks they feel they didn't get. But there are continuing discussions about the concerns of both groups, and this is healthy.
The immigrant story in Lewiston, Maine, is more difficult. At the invitation of the mayor, a few African Muslim families from Somalia settled in all-white Lewiston. The number eventually grew to 1,100. As weary refugees from a fierce civil war, they must now learn a new language and acquire new work skills. Recently, a white supremacy group from outside the area (true racists) came to Lewiston to urge people to drive the Somalians out. Thankfully, the protest turned against the hate mongers.
These immigrant stories will play themselves out in time, just as those in "The Gangs of New York" did. Meanwhile, the world's refugees are increasing. We must take in our fair share of political refugees as should other well-off nations. But legitimate questions must be asked as well: What are the limits to open space, clean water and other natural resources in the United States? How can we help other countries end these brutal civil wars and improve their own standard of living?
These subjects are all part of the conversation we need to cultivate, not squelch.
Marsha McCabe is a columnist for The Sunday Standard-Times.