Immigration and Racist Attitudes

         Immigration to the United States is difficult for some. Some experience storms, attacks, sickness, etc. In 1965, the United States government decided to remove immigration quotas altogether and also allow immigrants who were naturalized to sponsor a family member for lawful immigration, or chain migration. With an open immigration policy and being a respected country across the world at the time, many took advantage of this policy and settled in here.

         As immigration increased from Asia and the other Americas, sentiments toward them shifted. Those of Latin American origin had been stereotyped as gang members, thieves, sometimes speaking with Spanish words mixed into English, etc. Those of Asian origin where seen as smart but could only speak in broken English at best. Work ethic in regard to attaining the American Dream seemed to be stronger in the Asian stereotypes as they usually ran businesses while the stereotypes of Latin Americans were of farm labor or unemployed leeches. These sentiments still run fairly high in media or news portrayals of these ethnicities, further dividing people along racial lines. With this, Asian Americans share the feelings that some whites do; that Latin Americans and Blacks are thugs who don't work as hard to attain their dream/citizenship and rather demand things.

        The unfettered immigration that is praised by most on the left, tends to lead into racist attitudes. These attitudes can develop into small communities of one race, like Koreatown; any conflict or riot can easily separate and create hostility like how the 1992 riots went from seemingly random destruction and anger to deliberate targeting of Koreatown. Racism of any form will build up, and lead to destruction but there is also no way to destroy it entirely. The '92 riots was just the apex of what racism could lead to.

- Richard Trejo