Visualizing Immigration History
A wave is defined as a sequence of events that repeat. It is found in math, science, natural cycles, and what I found most interesting, within sociopolitical contexts. Because of this interesting parallel, I have chosen to explore the inner workings of American immigration history though the eyes of a visual learner. Prior to college, I paid only slight attention to the past 100 plus years. I fell under the category of the present, those who overlook the past and think of the future as a complete surprise. However, to my shocking and recent realization, the past is very similar to the present and what soon lies ahead. It seems that I never had any real grounds for voicing my ideas, but that is no longer the case. The past would prove it.
I have started to deeply investigate the inner parts of immigration and its complexities. Like a wave, immigration moves up and down in a time based axis. It is affected by the surroundings of high and low pressures. I'm interested in the space between, or lack there of, that exists between these two colliding entities. I'm curious to investigate what has caused the demand for immigration, the high peaks of the wave, and the low intervals of deterrence. The solution to this inquiry is to look back and pay close attention to history and ask yourself, "Is the story always repeating itself?"
My findings show the obvious—immigration has always existed in this country—plus, a fact that is typically unlinked—when the country is faced with an economic high, it demands cheap labor, thus applying pressure for migrations to occur. The United States welcomes everyone with open arms, giving compelling reasons why they should stay. But the opposite is found when economic stability is jeopardized. These are the years following depressions, where the foreigner seems to be taking the job of the "true" American. It seems like fear is the reason the door gets shut. Yet, today is seems that we have cultural amnesia and we forget that 100 years ago, Chinese were discriminated; 50 years ago Europeans were in the hot seat; and today it is Hispanics. This country depends on these ups and downs of immigration waves to thrive, grow, and survive. Today the myth of the melting pot has been discredited as we are "surprised" by the next wave of immigrants.
