Urban Studies HW - Week 4: April 10-16

Week 4: April 10-16

Readings completed: City Lights, Chapters 7-8.
Chapter 7 concludes the discussion on community, focussing on suburban life.
Chapter 8 traces the U.S. immigrant history, old and recent.
Discussion Forum 4: See Discussion Board under Communications in Blackboard for instructions.
Hey You, Beautiful! Have you watched Crazy Beautiful yet? See Discussion Forum 5 for details.

DISCUSSION FORUM 4: Feeling roots, sharing outlooks
For this discussion forum, first visit this website :

http://www.tenement.org/index_virtual.html

If for whatever reason that link does not work, then search Google for "lower east side tenement museum virtual tour", and click the first link at the top of the page.

This comes with an audio file you can click, and listen to a tour guide as she takes people through four apartments in the Orchard Street tenement. The tour also permits you to look at various pictures as you move along.

Imagine yourself arriving to New York in the 1870's, '80s, '90s. Think of what America must have meant to immigrants from around the world, coming here for a better life.

For this discussion board, share with your peers your own experience living here in the U.S. as you consider:

Has this country been a place for fulfilling aspirations, or has it frustrated or not fully honored (perhaps dishonored) the aspirations of the culture you identify with? (Please note: share as much as you feel comfortable doing so. This DB is not intended to pry, but to give the opportunity to share as you feel inclined and welcomed to do so.)

If you come from an immigrant heritage: What sorts of traditions have been handed down through your ancestors? What do you still do that reminds you of a connection with an immigrant past?