Ethnic segregation from "summary" of How The Other Half Lives by Jacob August Riis
The people who live in the tenements are often divided by ethnicity. Italians stick to Italians, Germans to Germans, Irish to Irish. Each group keeping to themselves, speaking their own language, following their own customs. This separation is not just a matter of choice, but a result of the circumstances they find themselves in. They seek comfort in the familiarity of their own kind, in a place that is foreign and hostile. This segregation extends beyond social interactions to living arrangements. Entire blocks are inhabited by people of the same ethnicity. Little Italy, Germantown, Irishtown - these are not just names, but reflections of the reality of the tenements. These ethnic enclaves are not just geographical divisions, but social and cultural boundaries that are difficult to cross. The consequences of this ethnic segregation are far-reaching. It breeds suspicion and mistrust between different groups. It leads to misunderstandings and conflicts, fueled by ignorance and fear of the unknown. It creates a sense of "us" versus "them", perpetuating stereotypes and prejudices that are hard to overcome. The tenements themselves become battlegrounds where these ethnic t...
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