Ethnic Geography

The Human Mosaic Chapter 9 Examples of ethnic enclaves in the United States

! North Boston " Mounted statue of American hero Paul Revere is in an Italian neighborhood " Most businesses have Italian names " Women lean out of upper-story windows conversing —Naples-style — to neighbors across the street " Italian-dominated outdoor vegetable market " Pilgrimage to the site where the American Revolution began has become a trip to Little Italy Examples of ethnic enclaves in the United States

! Wilber, Nebraska, bills itself “The Czech Capital of Nebraska” " Holds an annual “National Czech Festival” " Authentic food, and locally made handicraft are offered for sale " Many shops are decorated in Czech motif and ethnic music is played on the streets " The festival draws thousands of visitors each year Examples of ethnic enclaves in the United States

! Other ethnic festivals held in Nebraska " Newman Grove—”Norwegian Days” " Bridgeport—”the Greek Festival” " Dannebrog—the Danish “Grundlovs Fest” " McCook—”German Heritage Days” " Stromsburg—the “Swedish Festival” O’Neal— the “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” " Several Indian tribal “powwows” are held in other cities

Examples of ethnic enclaves in the United States

! An ethnic crazy-quilt pattern exists in both urban and rural areas of the United States ! Same kind of pattern exists in Canada, Russia, China, and many other countries Problems encountered when defining ethnic group

! Controversy has surround attempts to formulate an accepted definition ! Word ethnic derived from Greek word ethnos meaning “people” or “nation” ! For this text defined as people of common ancestry and cultural tradition, living as a minority in a larger society, or host culture ! Strong feeling of group identity, of belonging characterizes ethnicity Problems encountered when defining ethnic group

! Membership in an ethnic group is involuntary " He or she must be born into the group " Often individuals choose to discard their ethnicity Problems encountered when defining ethnic group

! Main problem is different groups base their identities on different traits " The Jews—primarily means religion " The Amish—both folk culture and religion " African-Americans—skin color " Swiss-Americans—national origin " German-Americans—ancestral language " Cuban-Americans—mainly anti-Castro, and anti-Marxist sentiment Problems encountered when defining ethnic group

! Politics can also help provide the basis for the we/they dichotomy that underlies ethnicity Role of ethnic groups

! Keepers of distinctive cultural traditions ! Focal point of various kinds of social interaction ! Provide group identity, friendships, and marriage partners ! Also provides a recreational outlet, business success, and a political power base ! Can give rise to suspicion, friction, distrust, clannishness, and even violence How ethnic minorities can be changed by their host culture

! Acculturation — an ethnic group adopts enough of the host society’s ways to be able to function economically and socially ! Assimilation — a complete blending with the host culture " Involves loss of all distinctive ethnic traits " American host culture now includes many descendants of —Germans, Scots, Irish, French, Swedes, and Welsh " Intermarriage is perhaps the most effective assimilatory device How ethnic minorities can be changed by their host culture

! In reality few ethnic groups have been assimilated in the so-called “melting-pot” ! It was assumed all ethnic groups would eventually be assimilated ! The last 25 years has witnessed a resurgence of ethnic identity in the United States, Canada, Europe, and elsewhere ! Ethnicity easily made the transition from folk to popular culture ! Popular culture reveals a vivid ethnic component Ethnic geography

! The study of ethnic geography is the study of spatial and ecological aspects of ethnicity " Ethnic groups often practice unique adaptive strategies " Normally occupy clearly defined areas— urban and rural Culture regions

! Ethnic regions ! Cultural diffusion and ethnicity ! Ethnic ecology ! Ethnic cultural integration ! Ethnic landscapes Culture groups typically occupy compact territories

! Ethnic formal culture regions can be mapped ! Geographers rely on diverse data

! Surnames in telephone directories

! Census totals for mother tongue " Each method will produce a slightly different map ! Such regions exist in most countries Ethnic formal culture regions

Culture groups typically occupy compact territories

! Two distinct geographical types of ethnic regions exist " Ethnic minorities who reside in ancient home territories

! Lands where their ancestors lived back into prehistoric times

! Became ethnic when their territory was annexed into a larger independent state ! Examples — Basques of Spain, Navajo Indians of American Southwest

! Place and region provide a basic element in their ethnic identity Culture groups typically occupy compact territories

! Two distinct geographical types of ethnic regions exist " Results from migration when people move great distances

! Emotional attachment tends to be weaker toward new homeland

! Only after many generations pass do descendants of immigrants develop strong bonds to region and place Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Ethnic homelands " Cover large areas, often over-lapping state and provincial borders " Have sizable populations " Residents seek or enjoy some measure of political autonomy or self-rule " Populations usually exhibit a strong sense of attachment to the region " Most homelands belong to indigenous ethnic groups Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Ethnic homelands " Possess special, venerated places that serve to symbolize and celebrate the region — shrines to the special identity of the group " Combines the attributes of both formal and functional culture regions " Regarded by some as incompletely developed nation-states " Because of sex, age, and geographical segregation tend to strengthen ethnicity " Long occupation helps people develop modes of life, behavior, tastes, and relationships regarded as the correct ones Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Examples of ethnic homelands in North America " Acadiana — Louisiana French increasingly identified with the Cajun people and recognized as a perceptual region " Spanish-American — highland New Mexico, Colorado, and South Texas " Navajo Reservation — New Mexico and Arizona " French-Canadian — centered on valley of lower St. Lawrence River in Quebec " Some include Deseret— Mormon homeland in the Great Basin of the Intermontane West

Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Some ethnic homelands have experienced decline and decay " Pennsylvania “Dutch” — weakened to almost extinction by assimilation " Southern “Black Belt” — diminished by collapse of plantation-sharecrop system resulting in out- migration to urban areas " Mormon absorption into the American cultural mainstream " Non-ethnic immigration has damaged the Spanish-American homeland Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Most vigorous homelands are the French-Canadians and South Texas Mexican-Americans ! Ethnic substrate " Occurs when a people in a homeland are assimilated into the host culture and a geographical residue remains " The resultant culture region retains some distinctiveness Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Ethnic substrate " Geographers often find traces of an ancient, vanished ethnicity in a region

! Italian province of Tuscany owes both its name and some uniqueness to the Etruscan people who ceased as an ethnic group 2,000 years ago

! Massive German presence in American Heartland helped shape cultural character of the Midwest, which can be said to have a German ethnic substrate

Ethnic Island: Westby, Wisconsin Ethnic Island: Westby, Wisconsin

! This small town is in America’s ethnically diverse rural heartland. ! Westby was a Norwegian pioneer and the town’s population is primarily Norwegian. Ethnic Island: Westby, Wisconsin

! Although traditional events such as the fall lutefisk dinner and the May 17th Norwegian Independence Day celebration are celebrated, this ethnic group has essentially assimilated with the host culture. ! Note the various popular cultural organizations and activities in this community. Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Ethnic islands in North America " Small dots in the countryside " Usually occupy less area than a county " Much smaller than a homeland-serve as home to only several hundred or several thousand people " More numerous than homelands or substrates " Many found in large areas of rural North America

Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Ethnic islands in North America " Crazy-quilt pattern found in some areas of Midwest " Germans form the largest group found in ethnic islands—southeastern Pennsylvania and in Wisconsin " Scandinavians — primarily Swedes and Norwegians —came mainly to Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas, and western Wisconsin " Ukrainians settled mainly in the Canadian Prairie Provinces " Slavic groups — mainly Poles and Czechs — established scattered colonies in the Midwest and Texas

Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Ethnic islands develop because “a minority group will tend to utilize space in such a way as to minimize the interaction distance between group members” ! The desire is to facilitate contacts within the community and minimize exposure to the outside world ! The ideal shape of an ethnic island is circular or hexagonal ! People are drawn to rural places where others of the same ethnic background are found

Ethnic culture regions in rural North America

! Survive from one generation to the next because most land is inherited ! Sale of land is typically confined within the ethnic group, helping to preserve its identity ! Social stigma is often attached to sale of land to outsiders ! Small size makes populations more susceptible to acculturation and assimilation Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

! Formal ethnic culture regions occur in cities throughout the world ! Minority people tend to create ethnic residential quarters ! Ethnic neighborhood — a voluntary community where people of like origin reside by choice showing a desire to maintain group cohesiveness

Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

! Benefits of the ethnic neighborhood " Common use of language " Nearby kin " Stores and services specially tailored to a certain group’s tastes " Presence of factories relying on ethnically based division of labor " Institutions important to the group — churches and lodges Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

! The ghetto — traditionally been used to describe an area within the city where a certain ethnic group is forced to live " An involuntary community and as much a functional culture region as a formal one " Discrimination decides whether a ethnic group lives in a ghetto or voluntarily forms its own neighborhood " American society discriminates more against blacks and Asians

Jewish Ghetto: Salzburg, Austria

! The name of this street is Judengasse –Jew Street. ! Here, as in many European cities, Jews were forced to live in a specific walled and gated area. Jewish Ghetto: Salzburg, Austria

! Judengasse had 3000 residents by 1610. ! Virtually all of Salzburg’s Jewish population succumbed to the Nazi Holocaust. ! The term ghetto derives from the Jewish quarter by the Ghetto Novo or New Foundry in Venice. Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

" Study of Cleveland, Ohio, by John Kain

! Blacks are confined to a ghetto by discriminatory housing practices

! Blacks more highly segregated residentially than white ethnic groups

! Italians, Poles, Jews, Appalachian folk, and other white ethnic groups occupy neighborhoods rather than ghettos

! These other white ethnic groups disperse to suburbs more readily than African- Americans Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

! Ethnic clustering survives relocation from neighborhoods to suburbs " Example of the Chinese in the San Gabriel Valley near Los Angeles ! In ancient times, conquerors often forced vanquished native people to live in ghettos " Religious minorities usually received similar treatment " Sometimes walls were built around ghettos " Islamic cities had Christian districts " Medieval European cities had Jewish ghettos Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

! North American cities are more ethnically diverse than any other urban centers in the world " Ethnic neighborhoods became typical after about 1840 " Immigrant groups clustered together instead of dispersing " Ethnic groups generally came from different parts of Europe than those who moved to rural areas Urban ethnic neighborhoods and ghettos

! North American cities are more ethnically diverse than any other urban centers in the world " Catholic Irish, Italians, Poles, and East European Jews became the main urban ethnic groups " Other non-European groups later came to urban areas — French-Canadians, southern blacks, Puerto Ricans, Appalachian whites, Amerindians

Other ethnic migrants

! As immigration laws changed, the ethnic variety in North American cities grew even greater ! Asia, rather than Europe, is now the principal source continent for immigrants in the United States and Canada " Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese comprise the most numerous immigrant groups " Asia supplied 37 percent of all legal immigrant to United states in mid-1990s " Japanese ancestry forms the largest national- origin group in Hawaii

Chinatown: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

! A key link in a pattern of chain migration, Victoria’s Chinatown is Canada’s oldest, the earliest gold-seekers coming by boat via San Francisco in 1858. ! Between 1861 and 1884, nearly 16000 Chinese railroad workers funneled through Victoria to the mainland. Chinatown: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

! Discrimation concentrated the community and by 1910, Chinatown was the nation’s largest, comprising six city blocks and 3000 Chinese. ! Second to Vancouver until 1950, it now ranks eighth. ! Decline followed the 1923-47 prohibition of Chinese immigration. Chinatown: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

! However, in the 1980s, it became the first to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program and to have a Chinese arch. The Tong Ji Men – Gate of Harmonious Interest, replete with Animist, Buddhist and Taoist motifs, symbolizes Canadian multiculturalism. Other ethnic migrants

! Many West Coast cities have acquired sizable Asiatic populations ! Vancouver " Eleven percent Asian in 1981 " Has absorbed more immigrants, particularly from Hong Kong Other ethnic migrants

! Latin America, including Caribbean countries, has surpassed Europe as a source of ! immigrants to North America " East Coast cities have large numbers from the West Indies " Miami has become a West Indies/Caribbean city As early as the 1970s, New York City was receiving large numbers of immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica ! Image of Canada and the United States as predominantly “European” may change

Other ethnic migrants

! We need to be reminded not all emigrant ethnic groups live in North America " About 28 million ethnic Chinese reside outside China and Taiwan

! Most live in Southeast Asian countries

! Indonesia has over 7 million

! Thailand has nearly 6 million

! Malaysia has more than 5 million Other ethnic migrants

! We need to be reminded not all emigrant ethnic groups live in North America " Auckland, New Zealand, has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world " Germany, The United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain are home to millions of Africans, Turks, and Asians

Ethnic Neighborhood: Sao Paulo, Brazil

! This torii marks entry to Liberdade, a Japanese community. ! Japanese were initially recruited to work on coffee fazendas and by 1924, 34,000 had been subsidized by the Sao Paulo state government. Ethnic Neighborhood: Sao Paulo, Brazil

! After 1920, emigration was subsidized by Japan and arrivals peaked in 1933 with 25,000. ! Highly successful farmers, especially in market gardening, many eventually moved into cities to form distinctly Japanese communities. Other ethnic migrants

! Urban ethnic neighborhoods tend to be transitory " Ethnic groups remain while undergoing acculturation " Central-city ethnic neighborhoods experience a life cycle " Often one group is replace by a later-arriving one " Example of Boston’s West End

! Mainly an Irish area in the nineteenth century

! At the beginning of the twentieth century Jews replaced the Irish

! Poles and Italians replaced Jews in the late 1930s

Other ethnic migrants

! Urban ethnic neighborhoods tend to be transitory " In Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood Central Americans replaced Cubans " Chicago’s Adams area provides an almost complete history of American migratory pattern ! First came the Germans and Irish ! Next Greeks, Poles, French Canadians, Czechs, and Russian Jews ! Soon the Italians pressed those listed above ! The Italians were challenged by Chicanos and a small group of Puerto Ricans Other ethnic migrants

! Urban ethnic neighborhoods tend to be transitory " Older groups often established new ethnic neighborhoods in suburban areas Ethnic mix and national character

! Any country is the sum of its cultural parts ! Each country has its own unique mixes of national origin and ethnic groups that help shape national character ! Russia has less diversity and a largely different array of minorities than the United States Ethnic mix and national character

! Canada is also strikingly different from the United States

! Far higher proportions of English, French, Scots, and Ukrainians

! Far fewer Germans, Africans, and Hispanics

Ethnic mix and national character

! Most persons in the United States claiming German origin have in fact been acculturated and assimilated " They have become part of the host culture " Massive absorption into the mainstream culture " Major factor in shaping a national character distinct from that of Canada