Our last class has arrived, and it feels like just yesterday we were in Queens! We hoped on the F train, and arrived at Delancy Street. Our first stop of the day was the
Essex Street Market, and Mike informed us that before this market people would sell their products on the street! Built in 1940 to house pushcart peddlers whom Mayor Fiorello La Guardia legislated off the streets, the market offers food for all tastes- Latino, Jewish, and upscale urbanite: Chicken gizzards, nopales, sherry vinegar, fish checks, prime cuts of beef, and artisanal cheeses (BG, p123). The market is quite culturally diverse, and I couldn't help look at their restaurants menu, which included hamburgers in doughnut buns! I have to admit just looking at the exotic foods in this market made my adventurous taste buds hungry!
Our next stop of the day was the
Lower East Side Tenement Museum, founded
in 1988 to preserve the heritage of the nation's immigrants, honoring
the millions who lived on the Lower East Side and in other immigrant
ghettos (BG, p122). Five apartments in this six-story Italianate brownstone have been restored to their 19th century appearance (BG,
p122). We arrived to the museum a bit early because of the rain tyring
to ruin our parade! We met up with our tour guide, and she walked us
over to the tenements we were going to be visiting. She began our
discussion by telling us the hardships millions of Irish immigrants had
to live through in these tenements. They were built to exploit all
available space and maximize the return for the landlord, and were one
of the horrors of immigrant life (BG,
p122). She told us about the stereotype the immigrants received, and
the prejudice they encountered when it came to finding a job. When we
entered the tenement, the walls looked ripped and torn and covered in
what seemed 100 layers of wall paper. She explained to us that the
landlords would not spend money removing old wallpaper, so they would
cover over it making the wall look decent enough. The first room
contained artifacts that were found, such as a bottle of shampoo, a lice
comb, and a toothbrush. She passed around pictures that showed us the
fact that Irish immigrants where portrayed as savage animals. We moved
on to the second room, where we sat down and were directed to a screen
in the front. Our guide began telling us about how the Irish felt about
America before and after they came. She played songs that varied in
mood, from happy at first, to disappointed afterwards. The song that
impacted me the most was about an Irish man who was happy to be in New
York, and as he began searching for jobs he realized each add ended with
No Irish Need Apply. This must have been quite upsetting for the Irish
people who were just trying to better themselves with jobs, however
their anger only contributed to the stereotype of them being savage
animals. We continued onto the third room, which was the apartment of
the Moore Family. We came into the kitchen, and our tour began telling
us about the milk produced at that time, and how it contained harmful
ingredients that eventually led to the death of the baby Agnes Moore.
She explained how swill milk was the only thing these Irish families
could afford, and they were actually aware of the horrible milk they
were being sold. We proceeded to the fourth and final room, where the
replicated wake of Agnes would have been held. As we walked in our guide
turned on music, which was a type of song a mourning mom would sing if
her child died. The room gave me the spooks, because it seemed so real!
There was a coffin, a cross on the coffin, the mirrors were covered, the
mirrors were open, and there were hats on the chairs! These were all
typical rituals and beliefs the Irish had when it came to mourning a
loved family member. I really enjoyed this tour, it was nothing like I
have ever experienced before. It felt like I was living with these poor
immigrants and suffering right there with them.
After our quite educational time spent at the Tenement Museum, we headed for lunch at
Congee Village. The food was delicious! I loved the bok choy, Chinese broccoli, garlic chicken, and of course some green tea! Me and my Friends devoured the food, and were happy campers. We decided to go for some bubble tea, and even brought some for Meritta and Mike to try! After we finished our delicious lunch we met up with our tour guide who seemed excited to start the tour!
Our tour began with some fun facts, our guide informed us that 8 to 12 percent of the US population is foreign born, and in NYC about 36 percent of the population is actually foreign born. He told us the the three most immigrating countries are Dominican Republic, China, and Jamaica. We began in
China Town, which grew slowly at first, and due to the completion of the
Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 the Chinese population grew significantly (BG, p108). Our guide informed us that Chinatown was not always populated with Chinese immigrants, in fact it had an immensely large Jewish population. We passed by a couple of schools, such as
Seward Park High School, where Jerry Stiller attended, Ben Stiller's father. We passed by quite a few famous buildings, such as the
Eldridge Street Synagogue, built in 1887 it the first synagogue in the Unites States. We discussed the fact that the synagogue was designed by Catholics and they used neo-gothic architectural principles, instead of Jewish ones. The synagogue contains rose windows, and stained glass! We visited the
kletzker Brotherly Aid Association, made to help new arriving Jewish Immigrants. Our guide informed us that these associations were everywhere, almost in every city. The building is now a Chinese funeral home, but if you look closely you can still see the Star of David on it! We passed by
Church of the Transfiguration, built as the Zion Episcopal Church, now serves a Roman Catholic Parish, with masses given in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English (BG, p112).We passed by
Seward Park, and our guide informed us that there was a constant struggle to get that park, and it was finally made to provide locals with green space so their kids can play. It was a shock to me when our guide informed us that Chinatown was actually founded by several thousand Chinese from California who left after the Goldmine because of the attacks they were received from the working class. He also told us a bit about the
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and how it was the first time a specific country was prohibited from coming into the US. This law was appealed 61 years later, during WWII! As we approached the end of our tour, our guide gave us some information about
Five Points, a dangerous area that had a high gang, crime, and poverty rate. Immigrants fought, were stabbed, shot, and beat to death. He told us the story of Master Juba, an African American dancer who founded tap dancing! We finally arrived at Little Italy, from Mubery St. to Canal St lies the spine of this little country, an ethnic enclave dating from the 1880s that in recent decades has become increasingly Asian (BG, p114). Our tour guide informed us the Little Italy is actually more of a tour location then an authentic Italian location. We ended our last class with tears and delicious cannolis from Ferrara Bakery!
Our last class has arrived, and it feels like just yesterday we were in Queens! We hoped on the F train, and arrived at Delancy Street. Our first stop of the day was the Essex Street Market, and Mike informed us that before this market people would sell their products on the street! Built in 1940 to house pushcart peddlers whom Mayor Fiorello La Guardia legislated off the streets, the market offers food for all tastes- Latino, Jewish, and upscale urbanite: Chicken gizzards, nopales, sherry vinegar, fish checks, prime cuts of beef, and artisanal cheeses (BG, p123). The market is quite culturally diverse, and I couldn't help look at their restaurants menu, which included hamburgers in doughnut buns! I have to admit just looking at the exotic foods in this market made my adventurous taste buds hungry!
Our next stop of the day was the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, founded
in 1988 to preserve the heritage of the nation's immigrants, honoring
the millions who lived on the Lower East Side and in other immigrant
ghettos (BG, p122). Five apartments in this six-story Italianate brownstone have been restored to their 19th century appearance (BG,
p122). We arrived to the museum a bit early because of the rain tyring
to ruin our parade! We met up with our tour guide, and she walked us
over to the tenements we were going to be visiting. She began our
discussion by telling us the hardships millions of Irish immigrants had
to live through in these tenements. They were built to exploit all
available space and maximize the return for the landlord, and were one
of the horrors of immigrant life (BG,
p122). She told us about the stereotype the immigrants received, and
the prejudice they encountered when it came to finding a job. When we
entered the tenement, the walls looked ripped and torn and covered in
what seemed 100 layers of wall paper. She explained to us that the
landlords would not spend money removing old wallpaper, so they would
cover over it making the wall look decent enough. The first room
contained artifacts that were found, such as a bottle of shampoo, a lice
comb, and a toothbrush. She passed around pictures that showed us the
fact that Irish immigrants where portrayed as savage animals. We moved
on to the second room, where we sat down and were directed to a screen
in the front. Our guide began telling us about how the Irish felt about
America before and after they came. She played songs that varied in
mood, from happy at first, to disappointed afterwards. The song that
impacted me the most was about an Irish man who was happy to be in New
York, and as he began searching for jobs he realized each add ended with
No Irish Need Apply. This must have been quite upsetting for the Irish
people who were just trying to better themselves with jobs, however
their anger only contributed to the stereotype of them being savage
animals. We continued onto the third room, which was the apartment of
the Moore Family. We came into the kitchen, and our tour began telling
us about the milk produced at that time, and how it contained harmful
ingredients that eventually led to the death of the baby Agnes Moore.
She explained how swill milk was the only thing these Irish families
could afford, and they were actually aware of the horrible milk they
were being sold. We proceeded to the fourth and final room, where the
replicated wake of Agnes would have been held. As we walked in our guide
turned on music, which was a type of song a mourning mom would sing if
her child died. The room gave me the spooks, because it seemed so real!
There was a coffin, a cross on the coffin, the mirrors were covered, the
mirrors were open, and there were hats on the chairs! These were all
typical rituals and beliefs the Irish had when it came to mourning a
loved family member. I really enjoyed this tour, it was nothing like I
have ever experienced before. It felt like I was living with these poor
immigrants and suffering right there with them. 
Our tour began with some fun facts, our guide informed us that 8 to 12 percent of the US population is foreign born, and in NYC about 36 percent of the population is actually foreign born. He told us the the three most immigrating countries are Dominican Republic, China, and Jamaica. We began in China Town, which grew slowly at first, and due to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 the Chinese population grew significantly (BG, p108). Our guide informed us that Chinatown was not always populated with Chinese immigrants, in fact it had an immensely large Jewish population. We passed by a couple of schools, such as Seward Park High School, where Jerry Stiller attended, Ben Stiller's father. We passed by quite a few famous buildings, such as the Eldridge Street Synagogue, built in 1887 it the first synagogue in the Unites States. We discussed the fact that the synagogue was designed by Catholics and they used neo-gothic architectural principles, instead of Jewish ones. The synagogue contains rose windows, and stained glass! We visited the kletzker Brotherly Aid Association, made to help new arriving Jewish Immigrants. Our guide informed us that these associations were everywhere, almost in every city. The building is now a Chinese funeral home, but if you look closely you can still see the Star of David on it! We passed by Church of the Transfiguration, built as the Zion Episcopal Church, now serves a Roman Catholic Parish, with masses given in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English (BG, p112).We passed by Seward Park, and our guide informed us that there was a constant struggle to get that park, and it was finally made to provide locals with green space so their kids can play. It was a shock to me when our guide informed us that Chinatown was actually founded by several thousand Chinese from California who left after the Goldmine because of the attacks they were received from the working class. He also told us a bit about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and how it was the first time a specific country was prohibited from coming into the US. This law was appealed 61 years later, during WWII! As we approached the end of our tour, our guide gave us some information about Five Points, a dangerous area that had a high gang, crime, and poverty rate. Immigrants fought, were stabbed, shot, and beat to death. He told us the story of Master Juba, an African American dancer who founded tap dancing! We finally arrived at Little Italy, from Mubery St. to Canal St lies the spine of this little country, an ethnic enclave dating from the 1880s that in recent decades has become increasingly Asian (BG, p114). Our tour guide informed us the Little Italy is actually more of a tour location then an authentic Italian location. We ended our last class with tears and delicious cannolis from Ferrara Bakery! 
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