The bit of poetry with which Shipler begins this chapter is from a sonnet by Emma Lazarus entitled The New Colossus. Click on the Statue of Liberty to read more about it. The other links connect to information about Emma Lazararus and to the hand-written manuscript version of the poem
AMST 355 Class and Culture Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.
Chapter two provides narratives of three different women in three different locations: Christie in Akron, Ohio, Debra, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Caroline, who moved around a lot, but whose tale is largely centered in Vermont and New Hampshire. As you read their stories, I’d like to have you consider the points of similarity and points of difference between them. As before, also make note of the things that surprise you about them: their accomplishments, their defeats, their successes, their disappointments. Also, try to get a sense of what kinds of things accounted for their setbacks. Take note of their budgets and what kinds of expenses they have on a daily and weekly basis. Record your observations in your journals.
Internet Exercise.
What kind of work might be out there for these women today? You will note that one of these three women is computer savvy, and, indeed, has education beyond the high school level. Two internet sources where she (or, for that matter, the other two women) might look are Craig’s List and Monster.com. Craig's List is organized by community, and not every community is listed. Cleveland Ohio is, however. Browse through the list of full and part time jobs for which Debra might qualify, and check out the wages offered. Akron Ohio is represented on Monster.com. To find the posts there, go to the home page and click on the select job category and select location drop-down lists and then the search button. What kind of jobs are available and at what salary level? Look at both full and part time jobs and at permanent and temporary ones. Make a list of those for which they might apply, and consider how many hours per week they’d have to work to meet their expenses.
For Thursday, February 19
Read, in Shipler,
Chapter 3, Importing the Third Worldpp. 77 - 95
Internet Exercise
One of the “hot topics” politically speaking is “Immigration Reform”. I’d like to have you do a little research on this topic, similar to that you did on the materials related to the Negative Income Tax. Here, I’m suggesting you use two sources, Google News for current news stories, and Clusty by vivissimo for broader-based stories. The method will be the same as last time. I want everyone to find one unique story from each search source (first come first served). I’ve made a new Blackboard Blog on Immigration. Place your sources there, and this time, add a paragraph or two summary for each. Browse and read the entries and summaries of your classmates. See if you can determine which segments of the American population are lining up on which sides of the debate.
Looking Ahead:
How are you coming with the novel, Samaritan? I will introduce the written assignment on that book in the next syllabus. The assignment and discussion of it will be much clearer if you have most or all of it read by then. (Hint, hint, hint).
The United States has long been called a Nation of Immigrants, and many immigrant groups have begun their American saga in the working poor class. Some students in this class may have parents, grandparents, or great grandparents who would fall into this category. We saw some of the life of an immigrant community in the film, Heaven Touches Brooklyn in July.
This chapter introduces us to immigrants more recent than the Italians enjoying the Dance of the Giglio, however: immigrants from third world countries in both hemispheres. We’ll begin to investigate some of their stories.
Note that Monday has been mysteriously transported to Wednesday this week. Our two classes are back to back, so you may want to read ahead for Thursday's class.
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