Many immigrants have limited formal education, and they can barely read or write in their own native language and the U.S. government requires all prospective candidates for the U.S. citizenship to acquire at least the basic knowledge of the English language so they can pass their citizenship exam/interview.
In many instances, it is very difficult because of the many hours they have to work in factories to support their families. They know that they have to sacrifice and go to school to learn English, civics, and history because of the dream of being part of this society and becoming U.S. citizens. Also, many immigrants dreamed of becoming successful in America, but it does not work most of the time. In Capital, a critique of political economy, Marx, (1906) said that, “The directing motive, the end and the aim of capitalist production, is to extract the greatest possible amount of surplus-value, and consequently to exploit labour-power to the greatest possible extent.” (p.363). And in his book with Engels, The Communist Manifesto (1948), Marx said that unfortunately, “We cannot take from people what they have not” (p. 28). In the United States, in many instances, the capitalist minds of entrepreneurship take away what many immigrants struggle to achieve simply by exploiting them in the name of free market.
Cape Verde - A Brief History
The Cape Verde Islands are an archipelago with an ethnically diverse population, located approximately 300 miles from the West coast of Africa between the continents of Africa, Europe, and Americas. Cape Verde was discovered and settled in the 1460s by Portuguese sailors, and became a center for the distribution of West African slaves to the New World. Although Cape Verde is a very ethnically diverse country, at one point the situation in Cape Verde became uncontrollable and it was difficult to discern whether the European or African influences predominated in Cape Verde. As a result, many Cape-Verdean people are still confused about their ethnicity/identity, even today. Some are not sure whether they were European or African, and in many instances they accept both realities. Fortunately, in the United States they can check the “other” category, regardless of the color of their skin.
Economic problems and the drought in Cape Verde forced and are still forcing many Cape-Verdeans to come to America. Amilcar Cabral, the founding father of the Cape Verdean nationality, wanted people to feel empowered with an understanding of free society based on equality, rights, and privileges. On several occasions, he expressed that Africans have their own heads to think with, and that it was only a matter of time, before they become prosperous with liberty for all, and achieve the possibility of enjoying civil and democratic privileges regardless of their geographic location.
Wolf (1982) presents an outstanding view of what happened in Europe regarding trading, colonization, and other social matters during the imperial time. He explained how capitalism expanded throughout the world and devoted some of his attention to those who have been ignored by the “déjà vu” history. Wolf also pointed out that contrary to popular beliefs, many people of the world were well developed in many different areas such as culture, tradition, languages, and other areas when they encountered the European colonizers. He adds that trade and colonization changed the lifestyle of many native peoples, and spoke about the colonization impact in the arena of political, social, and economic transformation. I personally agree with the above statement. Africa had its own culture and values “taken away” by the imposition of colonial power.
Sklair (1999) said that politics are mostly bound up with anti systemic movements and struggles between superpowers and that they tend to prioritize the cultural over the political and/or the economic. He said that there is also a common interest in the question of how individual and/or national identity can survive in the face of an emerging global culture (pp. 149-150).
In this book, Sociology of the Global System (1991), Sklair demonstrates that the concept of the global system has a genuine scientific validity and that it is increasingly necessary for the analysis of a growing number of rapidly changing phenomena. Like any other idea, the author feels it exists in the minds of people.
According to my experience of the situation, right now, the globalization is not only in people’s minds but it is a reality. For example, because of the Internet, we are able to interact in real time with people in different corners of the world for many different reasons. Sklair, (1991) wrote that, “We are always being told that the world is shrinking and that the new technology is bringing the inhabitants of planet earth ever closer together, whether they like it or not” (p. 1).
We are connected as virtual professionals, educational institutions, businesses, and/or scientific communities. One can be in Australia and can have a real time connection/dialogue/chat with another person or organization in any other part of the world. This can certainly maximize the results in many different sectors and lower costs in terms of traveling. Also, time management is very important. If one can communicate virtually, there is no need to wait until the face-to-face happens to make a decision. Organizations and corporations brainstorm virtually when they want to create new projects. Instructors advise and or communicate with their students from any corner of the world. It is faster, more secure, and more reliable. About 10 years ago, online degrees were perceived to be of no value. Today, however, online degree programs are one of the most convenient and efficient ways to succeed academically and professionally.
We know and understand that globalization is real. Currently, most of our questions are being answered in real time by virtual teams in several calling centers throughout the world. Therefore, globalization is not simply a dream. Instead, it is a process that works extremely well for the global community.
In addition to the fact that we are technologically connected, the United States was also built by generations of people who had dreams. Dudley, 2003, said that, “Racism and ethic prejudice…led many American to view immigrants as “undesirable” (p.19). However, these strong pioneers with their dreams took many risks to accomplish what they have achieved. They suffered and died just because they believed that
America was a promised land where they could enjoy freedom, equality, and prosperity. Contrarily to the many stereotype regarding immigrants, Lee, (1996) makes it clear that, “Many experts argue that immigration, legal or illegal brings economic growth, more wealth, and progress for all Americans and is, therefore, of general benefit to society” (p. 49).
Sklair (1998) said that influential people regularly argue that to survive, local businesses must globalize. However, most of national, state, and local leaders fight for the interests of their constituents and entirely reject globalization and espouse extreme nationalist ideologies (p.4).
United States is a society where when one claims to be its citizen, he or she is “defending” a strong values and integrity. He/she is probably talking about freedom and other opportunities available to them. As stated by Lewinsky (1088), “Their motives are not much different from those of the earliest immigrants. Some come for religious freedom …and others come for political reasons, fleeing dictatorship and political oppression” (p. 128). This was not the case with Cape-Verdeans. They came because of economic reasons and family reunion.
References
Dudley, W. (2003). Examining issues through political cartoons: Illegal immigration. Thomson Gale.
Lee, K. (1996). Illegal immigration. Lucent Books, Inc., San Diego, CA
Lewinski, M., Capurro, G., Clancy, E., Levine, H. & Nicholes, D. (1988). Consent of the Governed: A study of American Government. Scott, Foresman and Company.
Mark, K. (1906). Capital: A critique of political economy. (Bennett A. Cerf & Donald Klopper, The Modern Library.). New York. (Original work published 1859).
Sklair, L. (1991). Sociology of the global system. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Sklair, L. (May, 1998). Transnational practices and the analysis of the global system: Delivered for the transnational communities programme seminar series, 22
Sklair, L. (1999). Competing conceptions of globalization. Journal of World-System Research, Vol. V, 2, 1999, 143-162
Wolf, E. R. (1982). Europe and the people without history. The Regents of the University of California
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