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GREEK-AMER. CULTURE.
Term Paper ID:23137
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Essay Subject:
Historical overview in 20th Cent. Immigration, Greektowns, occupations, language, religion, family.... More...
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6 Pages / 1350 Words
3 sources, 31 Citations,
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Paper Abstract:
Historical overview in 20th Cent. Immigration, Greektowns, occupations, language, religion, family.
Paper Introduction:
Modern Greek-American Culture
Introduction
The increased affluence of Greek-Americans since their first migration to the United States has generally resulted in their mobilization into the middle- and higher-income classes of American society. As with most immigrant ethnic groups, this has led to an assimilation of Greek culture and identity with the greater American culture. Nonetheless, many Greek Americans continue to recognize their cultural roots, even if only in a fused form of Greek and American culture.
Immigration
In 1528 a Greek named Theodorus arrived with the Spaniards at Tarpon Springs, Florida. He was the first greek to land in America. Thereafter, until the 1880s, Greek immigration to the
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[6]Ibid. [11]Ibid. [29]Ibid. [16]Ibid. 2nd ed.(New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 1989), 155. [14]Ibid. BibliographyHecker, Melvin and Heike Fenton. [28]Ibid., 161. It ishard to locate accurate statistical data on the occupations of the earlyimmigrants; however, in 19 7, the consul general in New York City estimatedthat of the 15 , Greeks in the United States, between 3 , and 4 , were working as laborers in factories and railroad construction gangs.[13]Others were employed as bootblacks, waiters, and clerks in stores thatcatered to the immigrant trade.[14] Some had become apprentices in varioustrades, while the more ambitious already had become shopkeepers. [17]Moskos, 139. Anundisclosed number owned and managed their own grocery stores,coffeehouses, barbershops, clothing stores, bakeries, carpentry shops,saloons, cleaning and pressing shops, laundries, print shops, meat markets,and brokerage firms.[15] The legal and medical professions were alsorepresented, but in relatively smaller numbers.[16] Moskos argues that within a few years of the earliest migrations,Greek immigrant society began to reflect the process of internal class andsocial stratification that characterizes American society as a whole.[17]He observes that the beginnings of a Greek-American middle class can bedetected by 191 .[18] Nonetheless, by the 192 s a considerable number ofGreeks had become owners of small businesses.[19] Moskos uses these factsto base his argument that the petty bourgeois component of the earlyimmigrant Greeks deeply affected the future direction of the Greek-Americancommunity.[2 ] He argues that the ethnic identity of Greek Americans,unlike that often described for other European ethnic groups, was neverstrongly linked with working-class affiliation.[21] Consequently, themiddle class always served as the reference point for Greek immigrants andserved to propel Greek Americans toward higher-income classes. [13]Ibid., 47. entered World War I.[5] During this period, almost half a millionGreeks entered the country. [9]Ibid., 58. Generally, non-Greek residents inhabit the colonies ingreater numbers than before and chain supermarkets, fast food restaurantsand other American stores juxtapose the Greek stores. [8]Ibid., 56. Greek Language The perpetuation of the Greek language was a major concern for theearlier immigrants. Thereafter, approximately 7 , Greeksemigrated to the United States until the doors of immigration closed in1924.[6] Since World War II, and especially after 1966 when theimmigration laws were changed to allow easier entrance for the relatives ofpersons already here, over 235, Greeks have immigrated to the UnitedStates[7]. [21]Ibid. However, Greektowns today are less thoroughly Greek than were theearlier colonies. The Astoria section of Queens became the largestGreek settlement outside of Greece or Cyprus.[8] In addition, many Greekslocated to Washington Heights in Manhattan and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. Immigration In 1528 a Greek named Theodorus arrived with the Spaniards at TarponSprings, Florida. [18]Ibid. Moskosbelieves the dominance of intermarriage transformed the meaning attached tosuch marriages. Now, rather than carrying the stigma of deviance in thecommunity, most Greek Americans and their spouses who marry into the Churchcan continue an active membership in the Greek community.[29] Conclusion Greek immigrants have persisted in an attachment to "Greek identity"well into many of the second and third generations by bending where theyhad to without losing their distinctive ethnic identity.[3 ] Moskosobserves that to grow up a second-generation Greek American was to beraised in a hybrid environment. Although Greeks migratedto most parts of the United States, they located mainly in cities in theNorth and West Coast. Moskos argues thatthe long-term viability of the new Greektowns directly depends upon thearrival of new immigrants rather than the continued residence of earlierimmigrants.[9] He believes that if new Greeks ceased to come in, theneighborhoods would change even more than they have already.[1 ]Generally, as a sign of their increased affluence and social mobility, manyresidents of Greektown move to higher-income neighborhoods in the city orto the suburbs as soon as they are financially able. With the infiltration ofnon-Greeks into Greektowns and the movement of Greeks into the largerAmerican culture, the loss of the native language among successivegenerations was a necessary and inevitable event. [1 ]Ibid. [22]Saloutos, 71. [15]Ibid. By the 198 s, the figure was over 6 percent. The Greeks in America 1528- 1977. [25]Ibid., 161. InChicago, the new Greektown centered at Western and Lawrence Avenues. New York: Oceana Publications, 1978.Moskos, Charles. [3 ]Ibid., 9 . Greek Americans: Struggle and Success. 2nd ed. New York City and Chicago attracted the largestnumber of immigrants. [2]Ibid., 1-8. [26]Ibid. [19]Ibid. [4]Charles Moskos, Greek Americans: Struggle and Success. Community leaders, priests, and the press all demandedthat children born of Greek parents learn the language that "gave light tothe world".[22] This was a mission that had to be carried out, as well asa heritage that had to be preserved. [23]Moskos, 158. In addition, most ofthe children of the immigrants move out when they grow up and go out ontheir own.[11] Occupations Generally, the earliest Greek immigrants were forced into the pettystreet trades and sold cigars, flowers, sweets and other articles, or theykept lodging and boarding houses or small taverns for seamen.[12] Theylived frugally to save and send money to their relatives in Greece. However, by the198 s, the long-term movement toward English triumphed.[25] Moskos notesthat, in fact, even some of the newly ordained priests had only a shakymastery of the Greek vernacular.[26] Another result of the fusion ofcultures was the beginning of a reassessment of women's role in the Churchbeginning in the 198 s.[27] Family However, Moskos states that the strongest measure of the trend towardAmericanization of the church was the increasing incorporation of non-Greeks.[28] In the 196 s, intermarriages accounted for 3 percent ofchurch marriages. [3]Ibid., 8. [7]Ibid. Thus,intermarriage had become the rule rather than the exception. [12]Theodore Saloutos, The Greeks in the United States (Cambridge:Harvard U Press, 1964), 46. However, an undefinable uniquely Greek"sentiment" remained. Cambridge: Harvard U Press, 1964.----------------------- [1]Melvin Hecker and Heike Fenton, The Greeks in America 1528-1977.(New York: Oceana Publications, 1978), 1. However, even though most second-generation Greek Americans were familiar with the Greek language, and manycould speak it quite well, English became the language of American-bornGreeks in their own homes as well as outside their immediate family andcommunity. [5]Ibid. Generally, the entrenchment of a native language can remainonly as long as the community remains isolated. NewBrunswick: Transaction Publishers, 1989.Saloutos, Theodore. As withmost immigrant ethnic groups, this has led to an assimilation of Greekculture and identity with the greater American culture. Greektowns Generally lacking technical and English-language skills, Greekimmigrants preferred to live in cities where they could find jobs, be paidweekly, and seek out the company of other Greeks. By holding tight to the history in whichthat heritage is based, Greek-Americans have avoided the feelings of self-doubt and inferiority that can result in the "Anglo-conformity of Americanlife".[31] Consequently, they avoided the hindrances to success that canbe generated by such a negative mindset. [31]Ibid., 92.----------------------- 1 The tenacity of this sentiment is linked to theGreek belief in its heritage. Greek Orthodox Church The internal changes in the structure and membership of the GreekOrthodox Church also reflects the inevitable fusion of Greek and Americanculture. The Greeks in the United States. Moskos estimates that there were approximately 7 , GreekOrthodox members in the United States in the 198 s.[23] He includes in theestimate approximately 5 , non-Greek converts, the large majority ofwhom entered the Church through marriage to an Orthodox spouse.[24] Duringthe 197 s, largely due to new arrivals from Greece, there was a swell inthe movement to require Greek language in the Church. Modern Greek-American Culture Introduction The increased affluence of Greek-Americans since their firstmigration to the United States has generally resulted in their mobilizationinto the middle- and higher-income classes of American society. [2 ]Ibid., 141. [24]Ibid. [27]Ibid., 16 . He was the first greek to land in America.[1]Thereafter, until the 188 s, Greek immigration to the United States wasminimal.[2] However, by the 189 s, Greek immigration increasedsignificantly due to the precarious economic conditions in Greece.[3]However, only about 15, immigrants had entered the United States by theend of the nineteenth century.[4] Rather, the mass influx of Greekimmigrants occurred at the turn of the century and ended in 1917 when theU.S. Nonetheless, manyGreek Americans continue to recognize their cultural roots, even if only ina fused form of Greek and American culture.
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