Fear and Immigration? In the article: “Our Fear of Immigrants,” Jeremy Adam Smith writes about why it is we fear immigrants. Biologically and psychologically through numerous examples, comparisons, and studies. As unorthodox as it sounds, our hesitance towards outsiders can be clarified in various ways we never believed imaginable; in Jeremy’s investigation, he unveils the bewildering reality about the contrasts between ourselves and children using a distressful story of a man who was deported. Smith pondered the question: why are children not afraid of outsiders and in what way can understanding our biological structure to solve this question? Smith found that there are many reasons why this could be the case. Smith refers to an essential point made by a Princeton psychologist, Susan Fiske, who specializes in the nature of prejudice, states in …show more content…
This social behavior can be found deep within human molecular biology; in fact, innately most people are hesitant towards newcomers because of diseases and unwanted pathogens that pose a threat against their own group, Fiske remarks. Some scientists say this could be an evolutionary advantage; in addition, Fiske argues: “Our fear against immigrants could be the most intractable prejudices because it is so firmly connected to our survival and natural selection.” By definition, Xenophobia is the fear of strangers, and is quite mutual amongst most cultures. How can one fight Xenophobia, and is there any way to remove this sociological paranoia? The good news is, Xenophobia can tamed; the bad news is Xenophobia can never eradicated completely. Smith claims that prejudices come over time, rather than something that humans come pre-defined with. Smith also theorized that children only develop Xenophobia through their parents; this is what scientists call a contract hypothesis, meaning: “A simple idea that contract between groups facilitates tolerance and cooperation” ~
For this reason, Smith shares extensive information regarding research on why humans have disdain for immigrants. If Smith’s text did not include
There are possible answers; however, a definite answer is left to be found. Within How Kids Learn Prejudice, Kinzler begins
A specific example of this would be how many citizens in America are afraid of immigrants taking their opportunities for future jobs, considering them as a threat to their lives, making them seem as less and forgetting they are too persons who immigrated in search of a better
Humans rarely change their ways; they stay in their own worlds and always interact with the same types of people. Unfortunately, this habit often creates unseen barriers that divide and alienate human beings from one another. In Luis Alberto Urrea’s book The Devil’s Highway, Urrea provides a personal perspective to immigration by telling the story of 26 illegal immigrants, known as the Wellton 26, who are abandoned as they cross the Mexico-U.S. border. Through their story, Urrea proves there are invisible borders among people that create prejudice, such as language, ethnicity, and economic status. By reading The Devil’s Highway, it is clear that these barriers must be broken down to ensure harmony within society.
During the first world war, almost forty percent of just U.S soldiers were from a family of immigrants or immigrants themselves. The first world war was very significant in recognizing immigrants as their service didn’t just help win the war. It is suggested that they accelerate the assimilation creating acceptance from an entire new generation of Americans. After the first world war the immigration started to slow down, to an average of just 110,618 in 1918 from almost a million. Yet, during the 1920s racist attitudes towards immigrants grew worse and worse from a fear of Bolshevism .
The immigrant topic has had a long back and forth history with the United States. Since the beginning of this issue the next generation has adopted the common fear of outsiders that don’t look and sound like others around them. From 1900 to 1920, nearly 24 million immigrants arrived during what is known as the “Great Wave”. The outbreak of World War I reduced immigration from Europe, but mass immigration resumed upon the war 's conclusion, and Congress responded with a new immigration policy: the national-origins quota system passed in 1921 and revised in 1924(PEGLER-GORDON, ANNA).
“We all decry prejudice, yet are all prejudiced,” said Herbert Spencer, a famous philosopher. Prejudice is frequent everywhere and difficult to stop. It is very difficult to destroy something in someone’s mind, and it will inevitably be expressed through various methods with different degrees of subtlety. Any expression of this can hurt. Subsequently, in Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston, the main theme is that prejudice is everywhere, and can be of varying degrees.
Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of foreign people or ideologies, and is the forefront theme in the short story The Glass Roses by Alden Nowlan. Deeper than the idea of unsolicited hatred in society, is the idea of support and understanding which is heavily influenced by the aforementioned prevailing theme: xenophobia.
Numerous stories are heart retching and devastating. Trying to imagine being in the shoes of those immigrants is almost impossible, as I have been blessed with a wonderful problem-free life. Unfortunately, I am unable to even relate to any of the several issues immigrants encountered daily, as I have never experienced anything they have suffered through. Although, I personally cannot attest to such horrible experiences, I can promote acceptance and equality among immigrants in America. Similarly, a quote by Carlos Ramirez suggests the same.
Both during and after moving to a new country, immigrants face many hardships. The process of obtaining citizenships is difficult in itself, but even when citizenship is earned there are still challenges. One major difficulty some immigrants may face is dealing with xenophobia. Immigrants who experience xenophobic prejudice can find adjustment to a new life very difficult. In contrast, those who are treated with kindness and as equal citizens find assimilating to a new culture easier.
Response to “Our Fear of Immigrants” In “Our Fear of Immigrants” Jeremy Adam Smith takes a neutral stance on the immigration and anti-immigration argument. Smith begins by telling the story of a 4th grade class at Jefferson Elementary School in Berkeley, California who try to fight back against immigration laws after a classmate of theirs was deported back to his home country. Smith then goes on to compare the 4th graders to the adults of their town who fight for stronger immigration laws asking his readers what qualities the children possess that the rest of the citizens do not to make them react so differently.
The Primary causes of prejudice are psychological as shown by emotional prejudice and demonstrated through an authoritarian personality, that may result in displaced aggression. Where Sociological prejudice can be shown by social norms. One aspect of the psychological prejudice defined in Parrillo’s essay, can be driven by emotion. Parrillo explains that emotional level of prejudice are “feelings that a minority group arouses in an individual. Although these feelings may be based on stereotypes from the cognitive level, they represent a more intense stage of personal involvement.
Cornel West discusses courage in many aspects. In the first section, he talks about how it takes courage to examine yourself. Often times, we are quick to judge others on their decisions and beliefs. However, when the tables are turned around, we cower when having to criticize ourselves. In order to help fix the flaws in our system, we need to be able to critically think about ourselves.
Our life experiences make our present, our values, our way of behaving and thinking. Although no one is perfect, we are prone to develop prejudice against those who are totally different from us. For most of the time, prejudice only affects us personally. But if an individual is given a power to be responsible for another person’s live or death, prejudice can turn into a deadly weapon.
In this interview, C.P. Ellis illustrates his racist transformation after interacting with African-Americans. Although, there is not a simple answer to what causes prejudice, three of Parrillo’s theories that have an immense influence on becoming prejudice are socialization, economic competition and social norms. A theory presented by Parrillo, is the theory of the socialization process where individuals are heavily molded by the beliefs of those around them, resulting in the individual carrying on prejudiced beliefs. Parrillo defines, “in the socialization process individuals acquire the values, attitudes,