Research Day 2018 Schedule
"Why Do We Need More Haitians?": America's History of Suppressing Immigrants of Color and Favoritism of European Immigrants from 1819 to 2018
Type of Presentation
Paper
Location
D34115
Start Date
4-6-2018 1:10 PM
End Date
4-6-2018 1:40 PM
Abstract
In a country championed for its premise of “the dream” and nicknamed “the melting pot,” America’s history is riddled with examples of race as a determiner of entry. President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Haitians and African immigrants reflect this sentiment. The Trump administration’s attempts at imposing executive order 13769, repealing DACA, ending temporary protected status for several groups, and refusing low-skilled work visas to Haitians, Samoans, and Belizeans contradict what our country claims to value. The polarity of this value has always existed; evident from the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 to the National Origins Act in 1924. From legislation created to discriminate against different racial groups to the American attitudes towards immigrants of color. When there’s talk about keeping immigrants out, those immigrants are usually of color. Examining immigration legislation proposed from 1819 to 2018, I assert that it has contributed to the preference shown towards white immigrants and the restriction of immigrants of color.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Professor Laura White
"Why Do We Need More Haitians?": America's History of Suppressing Immigrants of Color and Favoritism of European Immigrants from 1819 to 2018
D34115
In a country championed for its premise of “the dream” and nicknamed “the melting pot,” America’s history is riddled with examples of race as a determiner of entry. President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Haitians and African immigrants reflect this sentiment. The Trump administration’s attempts at imposing executive order 13769, repealing DACA, ending temporary protected status for several groups, and refusing low-skilled work visas to Haitians, Samoans, and Belizeans contradict what our country claims to value. The polarity of this value has always existed; evident from the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 to the National Origins Act in 1924. From legislation created to discriminate against different racial groups to the American attitudes towards immigrants of color. When there’s talk about keeping immigrants out, those immigrants are usually of color. Examining immigration legislation proposed from 1819 to 2018, I assert that it has contributed to the preference shown towards white immigrants and the restriction of immigrants of color.
Other Presentation Disciplines:
Immigration History