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The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century were incredibly significant with regard to immigration in our American history. This precise time in our history is distinguished by one of the prevalent sources of immigrants, in any era, where the majority arrived from countries Southern and Eastern Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia, and the Balkans). The families and individuals that arrived at our ports, principally Ellis Island, were predominantly a peasant people. They were refugees fleeing political and religious persec
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"In 100 years, we've come full cycle," says Robert Lang, an urban analyst with the Fannie Mae Foundation and a Census consultant for USA TODAY. One cannot place limitations of time or pages onto the history of immigration.
The environment in which immigrants meet at Ellis Island was evidently represented in the scene wherein Jack's (Steven Keats) wife, Gitl (Carol Kane) unwearyingly awaits his arrival with their son Joey (Paul Freedman).
The movie Hester Street (Director: Joan Micklin Silver) captures the very fundamental nature of immigrants and their enormous effort, together with their ambitions, to live the American Dream and absorb their new environment; their new home.
Viewing Hester Street only solidified and expanded my thoughts on immigration. Hester Street, the movie, takes the view throughout the early years of the Garment District.
The primary constant for new life in the America, particular related to Hester Street, was economic pressures at home, the underemployed, and the unemployed. Noted is the search for religious tolerance and escape from political oppression, also played a role in the passage across the ocean and into Ellis Island. Where would we be, today, if it weren't for the Polish-Jews, the enslaved African's, the border crossing French Canadians, the Mexican, and hundreds more immigrants? America would not be the great country it is. The Polish-Jewish immigrates, depicted in Hester Street, and was one of the most influential people in the streets of New York at the turn of the century. Immigration is not a topic of interested discussed within a timed course.
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