Immigration in the United States has not changed all that much over the years, says a University of Tennessee associate professor who studies primarily Latino immigrants as co-director of the Center for the Study of Social Justice.
"On one hand, we are a nation of immigrants; on the other hand, where immigrants come from changes," Stephanie Bohon stated. "There's a lot of mythology about our immigrant ancestors," according to Bohon.
"On one hand, we are a nation of immigrants; on the other hand, where immigrants come from changes," Stephanie Bohon stated. "There's a lot of mythology about our immigrant ancestors," according to Bohon.
She said in the first two decades of the 20th century, many immigrants who came to America soon returned to their homelands. "They were hardly welcomed with open arms," Bohon explained, and many had difficulty assimilating to the English language and American culture.
Bohon said Knoxville's Old City started as an Irish "ghetto" in the 1700s and later became an Italian "ghetto" for immigrants.
You can read more in an article by Leean Tupper, published in the OakRidger.com web site at http://www.oakridger.com/news/x57960493/UT-s-Bohon-dispels-immigrant-mythology
