On a short walk through “Little Senegal” on
116th street and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard, the long blocks
with clothing stores, street vendors, beauty salons, and a variety of African
cuisine create the experience of a true African ambiance. Senegalese immigrants
are fulfilling all of their economic needs within their community by creating
business ventures in the heart of New York City’s most ethnically diverse
neighborhood, Harlem.
Many Senegalese immigrate to America because of
the job market. A study by Focus Immigration, a website that takes data
on immigration, migration, asylum and integration issues, showed that
31.7 % of immigrants migrate because of their lack of employment. They come to
America with skills that don't apply to America's economy. Therefore, their
lack of American skills drives immigrants to take advantage of what they know:
their culture. Senegalese immigrants create economic occupations that reflect
where they come from and the needs they have brought with them. Monsour, a
Senegalese immigrant who came to America five months ago, has found himself
working part-time in a Little Senegal specialty store. He adamantly stated that
the reason he came to America was the same as any other immigrant, to take
advantage of its economic opportunities. He left his wife, children and home in
Senegal in order to find freedom and an education in America. The irony,
however, is that Monsour came to America to obtain the insufficiencies of Senegal
only to settle down in a Little Senegal.
This community, a well-known ethnic enclave, provides economic
opportunities for immigrants to start their own jobs. Their contribution to the
community brings them profit while harboring pride for their culture. Senegalese
movie stores, hair braiding salons and restaurants all bring immigrants a taste
of their home country in America. The problem, however, is that
the re-creation of a culture's customs in another country brings
other economic issues alive.
The Senegalese population is young: 30% of the labor force is ages
10-14. The labor lies within the children; therefore, older residents immigrate
to Little Senegal to improve their economic status and
provide financial stability to those they left at home. The street
vendors "meet the needs of the impoverished urban class by selling
legal and illegal goods cheaply” ( Donna L. Perry, Rural Ideologies and
Urban Imaginings: Wolof Immigrants in NYC). Consequently,
other commercial entities fail because of the skewed competition. For
example, Senegalese taxi drivers or "Gypsy" drivers are renowned for
providing transportation to "zones" that legal taxi drivers don't
provide. They accumulate wealth from the paralysis of law-abiding
citizens.
The entire community works as a whole to the
same economical goals. The Masjid Malcolm Shabazz collects funds from the
Senegalese people to send back $15,000 each month to the Islamic city of Touba
in Senegal (Zain Abdullah of Temple University). This system of internal
economic stimulation makes American business owners frustrated.
By sending money back to their motherland,
Senegalese immigrants deplete the American economy. The Senegalese offset America’s
conception of immigration and our nationalist values which foster domestic prosperity.
The question lies within the true motives of Senegalese immigration. Do they
intend on contributing to America or are they selfishly sustaining themselves
and Senegal through America’s capitalism?
I find the essential question that you raised at the end of the article, very fascinating; it is something that seems to run through many immigrant groups. I wonder if this is subconscious? I wonder if immigrant's relationship to their home country would be different if their success in America was different? At what point do immigrants want to partake in the American system and and what point do they feel defeat by it?
ReplyDeleteBecause Senegal is so economically desperate at this time, it is more common among Senegalese immigrants to use America simply as a place of employment and not as a place of residence. I think that an immigrant's willingness to partake in the American economy is largely based on an immigrant's reason for migration, which for many Senegalese immigrants is to support their families back home.
DeleteI was wondering if it is really common in Senegal to have kids from ages 10-14 working already--it was an intriguing demographic for Little Senegal, seeing that normally children born in America with American parents, also, (rather the typical American child) won't start working until 16, and even that will be part-time. Some kids don't even start working until they're out of college. Do these children in Little Senegal also attend school, or do they only work?
ReplyDeleteAnd it's interesting that all the older immigrants are more focussed on providing economic stability to their families and organizations back in their home country. What do you think this says about the younger immigrants versus the older ones? Do they come for different reasons? Do they have different views on what American life should be like? What opportunities is one demographic looking for in American versus the other?
if anything is different, the younger immigrants come looking for education. besides that point, there is not much differance in reasoning between the generations. children in Little Senegal have to attend school, or else their parents you be tried and charged with a crime. it's illegal not to go to school. the senegalese don't want to attract the attention of polic in their neighborhoods.
DeleteKelly also responded a few posts down:
DeleteHello Summer!
In Senegal the half the population is under the age of 18, so yes it's typical that the youngins (10-14) are already working.
American education is a major pull factor for many of the immigrants. Those in Harlem's Little Senegal attend schools because they never had the opportunity to in their homeland.
Looking at the older immigrants we found that the priorities were different. Everyone immigrated for the monetary opportunities, but personal priorities changed the details. To me, they all saw America as an opportunist's heaven. They could engage in activities, events, and communities because they wished to, not forced to because of other necessities.
"The irony, however, is that Monsour came to America to obtain the insufficiencies of Senegal only to settle down in a Little Senegal."
ReplyDeleteThe question at the end is a real cliff-hanger. Made me think.
These countless ethnic enclaves which have developed throughout the country are interesting. It appears as if people want to remain a part of their culture. They like their culture, but not the politics behind the culture?
That is to say, people don't come to America for the culture, but for the freedom. Is this fair to us? Is it our job to host them, allow them a place in our democracy, even though they avoid taking part in our nation?
Is immigration just a cop out?
I don't think so, because immigrants boast such a spectrum of motives and assimilation stories, but this is just food for thought.
Divergent thinking you might say.
Kyra. That is exactly the question we left ourselves at. We had another article that actually broke down African hair-braiding techniques that Senegalese immigrants brought to America. It explained the implications that hair styles had on peoples' social class and economic status and how that was gaining negative connotations miles away in Little Senegal. It just raised the question if the immigrants actually came to America to truly assimilate into American social customs.
ReplyDeleteThis could also be pulling off of Linne's response which questions there economic prosperity upon arrival in American society. They do not seem to be an affluent community so I would infer that they would want to keep there customs alive in order to feel some sort of sustainability weather it be economically or cultural.
Summer, to answer questions from primarily the last paragraph... I think that many of the older Senegalese immigrants lived through a different time; therefore, they have different goggles about America and what it has to offer. Younger children from Senegal have grown up with this idea of the possibility of immigration and gaining freedom. The older immigrants have gone through much political hardship that for them. it is mostly about making a living and surviving than enjoying the cultural differences in America. Their main purpose is to maintain their culture but make enough money to sustain themselves and their family. For younger immigrants, I think it is more about experiencing the culture of America as well as working in its economy.
ReplyDelete