Immigration's influence on race, ethnicity, and class in America

Race, Ethnic and Class Values in America

One of the things that have shaped the history of the United States in relation to the country\'s race, ethnic, and class values is immigration. Immigration has played an important in the formation and development of the United States since the first immigrants arrived in the country more than 400 years ago. The significance of immigration in the country\'s history is attributable to the fact that it\'s a potent demographic source that has influenced the country\'s population and development to the present day. An understanding of race, ethnic, and class values in America requires an evaluation of the immigrant experience in the country in light of the ever-present divisions.

The immigrant experience in the United States is characterized by some salient features that highlight the racial, ethnic, and class composition of the population. One of the salient features that shape the immigrant experience in the country is the diversity of national origin. There is a tendency to group and even name immigrant Americans based on their national origin such as Italian-American, Irish-American, and Indian-America. While an individual may be raised in America, his/her genetic composition is used to determine his national origin (Lahiri par, 6). The hyphenated identity of immigrants in America has become so important to them because it\'s used as the pathway to social mobility. The second salient feature that shape immigrant experience in America is socioeconomic background. Socioeconomic backgrounds or status is used for class distinctions, which is considered as a caste system of a wide range of values and outlooks (Lubrano, p.222).

In light of these salient features of the immigrant experience in America, immigrants face racial, ethnic, and class obstacles. National origin and race are sometimes used to discriminate against an individual while class is utilized to limit social mobility in relation to an individual\'s educational level, occupation, and income. In essence, the levels of education, occupation and income are used to shape class structure and race. As demonstrated by Lubrano, an immigrant\'s level of education as well as his/her income and occupation is used to determine class structure (p.220). To this extent, blue-collar origins generate defining attributes for determining class structure on the basis of socioeconomic diversity. As a result, class structure and race in turn contributes to differences in how the American population approach and think about life. While people may have difficulties in providing precise definitions of class, they recognize these differences through looking at educational level, occupation, and income. Notably, people always think in terms of class structure and discriminate against and treat others differently.

Race is also used as a determinant of probable educational level, occupation and income. While immigrants have relatively similar ambitions in life as other Americans, they are sometimes discriminated against and considered different from others on the basis of race and ethnicity. For instance, in Langston Hughes situation, he was considered and treated differently because of his race despite having relatively similar values to other Americans in terms of work, education, and understanding of life (Hughes par, 3). This contributes to racial and/or ethnic discrimination because an individual\'s skin color is used to determine how he/she will be treated.