Google one of these strings:
- African Americans Great Migration
- Potato famine Irish immigration
- Anti Jewish Pogroms Jewish immigration (or similar)
- Anti Irish or anti Catholic cartoons (images)
- Anti Semitic cartoons 1880 (images)
- Anti Chinese cartoons 1890
- Northern Italians hatred against southern Italians (for an effective search, my apologies, you will have to enter the string "anti terroni").
COMMENT: summarize briefly what you found in your research. Try to limit the factual information and focus on the thoughts that came after the first emotional responses.
After googling "Northern Italians hatred against southern Italians", I was completely appalled to learn that racism exists within a nation by that nations people against each other. I was unable to find out exactly why these racist tendencies exist or why they started between the north and south, but from what I have read, northern Italians seem to have a superiority complex in that they think they are superior when compared to southern Italians. This is a complete shock to read because for the most basic reason of all, people born and raised in the same place should have a form of camaraderie between them, not division. It's incredibly upsetting to see inner turmoil within a country when it's them who are supposed to be your allies. When it comes down to it, we are all one race, the human race. We all bleed the same color. If we keep up this kind of behavior and encourage difference rather than sameness our children and our children's children are going to live in a world that is technologically advanced, but morally antiquated. We can only coexist if we unite.
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion of researching an anti-Catholic cartoon appealed to me immediately, as I have always searched for clues as to why some Christian religions resent Catholicism. After combing through various anti-Catholic cartoon (most simply pushing the idea that Catholics are evil and that they mean to take freedoms and privileges from the rest of society), I am still left without an answer. One particular image has left me scratching my head.
ReplyDeleteThe image, titled "St. Patrick's Day In America (1926)" displays a frantic St. Patrick fleeing from American citizens who are proudly standing their ground. Beneath St. Patrick, nine strands of paper are also fleeing off-land with him. Each piece of paper has so-called heinous Catholic values written on them. The citizens pushing out St. Patrick... are Ku Klux Klansmen... and one of the strands of paper has the word "intolerance" written on it.
It took a while for me to figure out that St. Patrick was supposed to be the villain in the cartoon, but even having realized the message of the cartoon, I am still baffled by the ironic foolishness of people.
When looking up "Northern Italians hatred against southern Italians", I learned alot from this mini research. I honestly didn't know there was racism within Italians as I thought they were cool with each other. Racism existed within the nation by each other but I failed to see the reasoning or origins to why they hated each other. One thing I can say is that Northern Italians feel like they are superior to southern Italians quite possibly due to the area they come from or their beliefs. I believe hatred within each other shouldn't exist as they are being racially discriminated outside of Italy and they should've shifter their focus on that rather than hating one italian to another as they all come from the same nation and share the same struggles. Not only that but they also Financially struggle as I seen photos in class where it showed kids with a mother. You can tell from that picture that they aren't enjoying their time during their poor economic state as the conditions they lived in were bad.
ReplyDeleteI researches Anti Semitic Cartoons of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth. My immediate reaction was of course horror and repulsion but after a second or two of analysis you get this sense of dread and depression. I’m utterly disappointed in my fellow humans, and would like to prosecute many like them to attain answers or most likely twisted opinions of depraved individuals. Im also curious as to the frequency of these comics around 1935-1950 as that’s a very tense and fragile period for the people of Jewish faith. Nothing could be more insidious than reinforcing a racist genocidal movement such as that. (side note) I choose this ‘string’ because of the area that i live in and want to know more of what they go through/ have endured.
ReplyDeleteThe Irish Potato Famine was due to a fungus called Phytophthora infestans spreading across the country, starting in 1845. Because potatoes were the main component of the irish diet, this caused a famine in the country and lead many immigrants to the United States. That's why there were Irish immigrants who were more associated with the Natives than these new Italian immigrants. It must have been degrading in a way for the Irish to move out of their country. Their main food source was diminished and it must have left them with a loss of pride having to leave their country. This is contrasted with the Italians who moved to start a new life and earn a decent living.
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ReplyDeleteFrom my research “Potato famine Irish immigration” I found out that between 1845 and 1855 more than 1.5 million adults and children left Ireland to seek refuge in America. Most were desperately poor, and many were suffering from starvation and disease. They left because disease had devastated Ireland’s potato crops, leaving millions without food.Potatoes were unique for Irelands in many ways, because large numbers of them could be grown on small plots of land. An acre and a half could provide a family of six with enough food for a year. Potatoes were nutritious and easy to cook, and they could be fed to pigs and cattle and fowl. The Potato Famine killed more than 1 million people in five years and generated great bitterness and anger at the British for providing too little help.
I was shocked to find out that Ireland since 1801 belonged to Great Britain and while most Irish were starving many wealthy landlords who owned large farms had large crops of oats and grain that they were exporting to England. Many believed that large numbers of lives would have been saved if the British had banned those exports and kept the crops in Ireland.
When I watched the video “Irish Potato Famine” I was surprised because at the end of this movie I saw images that are very similar to images from the video “The Way They Lived”. The image where Irish immigrants arriving in America on the ship looks similar to the image of Italian immigrants mass arriving in America. I even noticed the same photo where women standing and holding the baby and nearby three men sitting on the bench surrounded by slums.
I focused on the anti Irish and anti Catholic cartoons. I found myself getting lost in these images having over five windows open to different articles. A name that kept appearing was Thomas Nast. He was a famous editorial cartoonist who was also known as "Father of the American Cartoon". He was extremely biased and stereotyped the Irish. One article and quote that caught my eye that I reflect back to this course. He hateful bigotry manifested in Nast’s frequent depictions of Irish Americans as violent apes are commonly used in school curricula as prime examples of anti-immigrant nativism. I see a cross reference of many different races being compared to apes. Irish were described as “ragged,” “lowbrow,” “brutish,” “wild-looking,” and “course-haired”. Am I surprised by these comments? or drawings? No, sadly I feel as if people will be head strong and bias of their in lack of words small minded beliefs. The pictures of the cartoons aren't shocking to me. However I was reading comments on a few article and someone asked the question. "do you believe there is 'some' truth to cultural stereotypes." ....
ReplyDeleteI looked at anti Catholic cartoons and the reoccurring themes between them all were that Roman Catholics and the church would take over America, take advantage of the resources it offers, and impose their beliefs and way of life onto its people. I was surprised to see these cartoons because I didn’t know they existed. Having always viewed the Catholic Church as being prominent throughout history, and then seeing cartoons that were published in newspapers openly criticizing the church caught me a little bit off guard. I think the anti Catholic cartoons I saw are similar to other defamatory cartoons we’ve seen before in terms of the things they are being accused of such as being evil, ignorant, and corrupt.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the "reoccurring themes" really hits the head on the nail. I haven't been able to figure more specifically why people were so afraid of the Catholic church. The whole situation is confusing to me and reads as simple fear for the sake of wanting an enemy.
DeleteAfter looking into The Great Migration, I was so interested in what research I found. I feel like most of this stuff I never really knew much about but it's actually really interesting and also a pivotal moment in African American history.
ReplyDeleteThe events of the past are horrific, the way the African Americans were treated and it seems like an obvious turning point when around 6 million decide to migrate from the south to the urban Northeast, Midwest and West in search of more.
I also find this week's theme very interesting when it interweaves the history of African-Americans. By looking up for information, I learned why Africans and Irish came to the US to immigrate. No one wants to leave their homeland, but because of difficult circumstances, they decided to leave to find a better life.
DeleteWhen searching up "Anti Irish Cartoons" I found what are cartoons exagerising the stereotypes and making fun of it. All seem to portray horrific versions of Irish, but as I looked on I felt like I started to see the same "drunk Irish man" or "Irish people are monkey's" or "Irish people love gunpowder". Looking on it just seems to start becoming the same thing each time and I started to become bored of it and desensitized by the effects the comics are suppose to create.
ReplyDeleteI choose the research topic of "African Americans Great Migration"what I found was a lot of art that was developed because of it the MOMA exhibit was one of the first things to pop up. I read about where they traveled to and how it shaped places like New York,Chicago,ST.Louis etc.It created the Harlem renaissance and music like the blues that also influenced other genres which is so interesting to me. This mass migration wasn't any different then the ones that been happening from influx from other countries. They were coming from the South for a better life, better jobs, economic prosperity just as any person regardless of the country or state. This created what now we call the the melting pot and is the most diverse places. Reading the poetry and music you can read about the struggles and hope they had for the better life. An the process of the trips from the south.
ReplyDeleteI researched The Great Migration and in doing so I found that it took place between 1916 and 1970 due poor economic conditions and because of racial segregation and discrimination. 6 Million African Americans participated in this movement. Some of the main reasons for this movement were because of the spread of racist ideology, widespread lynching and the lack of social and economic opportunities in the south.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't really know how to feel about this movement, but what does come to mind is whether or not my grandparents or great grand parents took part in it. I ask this question because my grandmother is from Mississippi which is one of the areas that saw a decrease in the African American population. The only way I can find out is by asking her what year she moved to Brooklyn. I guess I'll ask and see if my grandmother and grandfather in fact moved to Brooklyn during this time therefore connecting my family to this historical moment.
After googling "Northern Italians hatred against southern Italians" I was surprised at what the results of the search were. My first source I visited gave me a clear definition for racism in Italy between the Norther Italians and Southern Italians. I was unaware of the racism that existed between these two groups of Italy but the reasoning I found was even more interesting. The sources said that Norther Italians hate Southern Italians because the Northern Italians feel that the Southern Italians have a "primitive" or a "savage" existence. The Northern Italians believe in this view because in Southern Italy there is more of a cross in Italian heritage and African and Asian heritage. So the Northern Italians are racist because the Southern Italians have more people born from multiple descents and not just Italian decent like most Northern Italians.
ReplyDeleteAlso, after googling the phrase anti-terroni I found out the the word terroni is a slur to indicate someone from the Southern parts of Italy after many southern born Italians moved to northern industrial parts of Italy in search of work. THe word terroni derives from terra which means land, over time developed to the word terroni which at the time meant land peasant and then became the slur directed toward Southern immigrant Italians.
African Americans Great Migration-
ReplyDeleteWhen researching, answering the questions and watching videos about this. I felt upset but not as much because my people, people who look and talk like me, are force to scramble to try to find a living. The south, especially the north were still has racist and prejudice feelings towards black people.It wasn’t as severe as the North and the North didn’t really need to rely on slavery because there were no plantations that harvested cash crops. Black people are always having to choose between the lesser of two evils. Even me being a black woman in society, I’m always given terrible choices solely because of this idea that i’m not well equipped enough and other nonsensical reasons. It makes me realize how many times harder I have to fight to prove to people that I’m not a accessory, i’m nothing like the stereotypes and i deserve to be treated well. And that is what I receive on a emotional level when looking at waves of black people having to change their home, the place they only know because they were forced here, to move again simply so they can be treated for the human being that they are. But, that has not been the case and still is t the case today!
I googled Anti Irish or Anti Catholic cartoons and was actually surprised at the bulk of images that came up. I was somewhat aware of the anti-Irish sentiment in America of the time due to the discussions in class and the film Gangs of New York directed by Martin Scorsese. I do enjoy learning about history, and i also remember reading that JFK being Catholic was a point of contention when he was running for president in the 1960s, but I wasn't truly aware of just how prevalent the situation was and has been for a long while. I see again that likening people to apes wasn't exclusive to African Americans or Italians, but to just about anyone who is considered "inferior" and will probably continue to be used against all kinds of marginalized groups. At this point, I'm almost expecting to see Middle Eastern, Latin Americans, or even people of the LGBT community to be depicted as apes sometime in the near future.
ReplyDeleteAfter googling, Anti-Irish and Anti-Catholic cartoons I found an interesting article about a famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast. Nast’s cartoons were brutal and very offensive in all aspects. One cartoon that truly caught my attention, was a man sitting on a gun powder keg, with a rum bottle in one hand, and a flare to light the keg, in another. This very offensive and clearly biased cartoon, was titled “The Usual Irish Way of Doing Things”, by Thomas Nast, in 1871. The cartoon depicted the Irishman as an angry drunk, out to wreak havoc. When I first viewed the cartoon, I was surprised by the way Nast portrayed the Irish. I did not know what to expect when googling Anti-Irish cartoons, but I did not expect such similarities to the Anti-Italian cartoons we reviewed in class. I found it interesting how, like Italians, the Irishman were depicted as apes. The features of the man sitting on the gun powder barrel, somewhat resembles the Italian shoe shiner, depicted in the cartoon labeled “A Wop”. Overall, these moments in history are truly revolting, and it angers me to see how dehumanizing and belittling these cartoons were.
ReplyDeleteIn keeping with my thoughts on "The Way They Lived" video I decided to research Anti Irish propoganda. I was not surprised to see how much of it existed but I was surprosed to see how Irish people 100 years ago were called the same names and given similar treatment to groups that we would consider "opressed" now. Much like Italian or African American people, Irish immigrants were called apes and rats by those in America who considered themselves natives. This goes to prove the "people are afraid of the unknown" sentiment that has been taught to us since childhood. However fortunate or unfortunate it is, Irish and Italian people were able to be accepted much quicker than African Americans in American society.
ReplyDeleteI researched The Great Migration and I found out that it was about the relocation of 6 million African-Americans. These people were seeking political asylum from the rural South. After the Civil War and Reconstruction era, there was heavy segregation that took place through laws referred to as the "Jim Crow laws." The destination of their choice were northern cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston and also, the Midwest and the West. After they left, African-Americans settled in these cities and created their own enclaves. For example, in New York City, they settled in Harlem and they spurred the Harlem Renaissance, which was a movement in which African-American art thrived. It also inspired the civil rights movement.
ReplyDeleteWhen researching it was incredibly sad to read that families were torn apart due this tragic situation. The background behind this such as lynching was also sad to read. It makes me upset that there was a lack of justice that people had to endure. However, I felt a sense of relief when I read the many African-Americans were able to escape and go to the North and start their own cities. Movements such of the Harlem Renaissance is still recognized today and I have had the pleasure to see some of the art and artists that came out this movements. Although everything was not solved after this, I was happy to see a happy ending for some.
There was a time in America when the Irish were characterized as apes, Italians as street filth, and Chinese as parasitic locusts. These racial discriminations have been portrayed in Anti-Chinese, Anti-Semitic, Anti-Catholic cartoon. There was an impressive cartoon that I found on Google was about the fears and portray immigrants, particularly the Chinese and the Irish, as parasites devouring what Americans hold dear. The title of that cartoon is "THE GREAT FEAR OF PERIOD THAT UNCLE SAM MAY BE SWALLOWED BY FOREIGNERS."
ReplyDeleteThis week's themes show me that famine and war in other parts of the world have made the United States the promised land of refuge. Because of the large number of immigrants making Americans afraid and worried about their lands would be invaded, they took the initiative to destroy many immigrants. I felt war at that time was devastating when everyone killed each other to gain the right to life. But thanks to immigrants from all over the world, America is so diverse now.
I was researching The Great Migration and I was shocked to see what I discovered. I remember learning about The Great Migration briefly in grade school but after reading some articles online, it really was a big part of African American history that I feel like should've been a bigger part of our the curriculum back then.
ReplyDeleteI looked up Northern Italians hatred against southern Italians and found that since Southerners were darker skinned compared to Italians up north, they compared them to soil aka "terroni". They believed Southerners were uncivilized people and they suffered the same racism as African Americans. I think it's very foolish and hypocritical because regardless of which part of Italy someone is from, they are still Italian. Calling them terroni divides the race and creates unnecessary hatred amongst each other. No race should go against their own people.
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