Comment on your peers' choice of topics in terms of similarities and/or differences relative to what you've been taught or know about the topic.

DAVID POST

To me the main message of the poem is one of welcome and acceptance. It presents the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of hope and refuge for immigrants coming to America. The poem contrasts the Statue of Liberty with the ancient Colossus of Rhodes, presenting the former as a beacon of hope rather than a symbol of conquest.

Ellis Island located in New York Harbor, Many would say that was the primary immigration facility on the East Coast of the United States from 1892 to 1954. Many people would refer Ellis Island as the Gateway to America.

Immigration Station: Ellis Island processed approximately 12 million immigrants primarily from Europe.

Melting Pot: The concept of America as a "melting pot" comes from the diverse mix of immigrants who came through Ellis Island and contributed to the cultural diversity of the United States.

Manifest Destiny a 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American Continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. It was used to justify the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and other western lands.

Expansionist Ideology: Manifest Destiny was an expansionist ideology that justified the displacement and mistreatment of Native American populations.

Impact on Immigration: The belief in Manifest Destiny encouraged immigration to the West, as individuals sought economic opportunities in the new acquired territory.

ERICA POST

The New Colossus paints the U.S. as a place that welcomes immigrants with open arms, offering them hope and freedom. It’s a beautiful sentiment, but when you look at history, it’s clear that this ideal wasn’t always the reality. America has had moments of being welcoming, but it has also had times when immigration policies were strict, biased, or downright unwelcoming especially toward certain groups.

One example of this contrast is Ellis Island and the whole idea of the "melting pot." I remember learning in school that Ellis Island was where millions of immigrants arrived, full of hope, ready to start fresh. The idea of the U.S. being a "melting pot" made it seem like everyone was welcomed equally. But as I got older, I realized that wasn’t really the case. My grandparents were able to come to the U.S. during a time when Cold War politics played a role in how Cuban refugees were treated. Meanwhile, immigrants from other places, especially Asia, faced much harsher restrictions, like those who came through Angel Island.

Looking at this through the lens of the module materials, I think the Lazarus poem and U.S. immigration history don’t fully match up. The poem suggests an open-door policy, but history shows that the U.S. has often decided who gets to come in based on race, politics, and economics. Policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act, the treatment of Mexican immigrants during the Great Depression, and even more recent shifts in immigration law highlight that contradiction. My grandparents were fortunate, but I know that wasn’t the case for a lot of people.

QUESTIONS FROM PROFESSOR

 How did different immigrant groups navigate maintaining their identities while integrating into American society? Additionally, considering Ellis Island’s role in screening and sometimes rejecting immigrants, how might that complicate Lazarus’s welcoming vision?