Once the visitor was told rather repetitively that this city was the melting pot; never before in history had so many people of such varied languages, customs, colors and culinary habits lived so amicably together. Although New York remains peaceful by most standards, this self-congratulation is now less often heard, since it was discovered some years ago that racial harmony depended unduly on the willingness of the blacks (and latterly the Puerto Ricans) to do for the other races the meanest jobs at the lowest wages and then to return to live by themselves in the worst slums.

Summary

This quote highlights the notion that the idea of New York City being a harmonious melting pot of diverse cultures was promoted repetitively in the past. However, the speaker mentions that this narrative has been challenged, as it was realized that racial harmony in the city relied heavily on the willingness of certain marginalized groups, such as African Americans and Puerto Ricans, to take up low-paying and menial jobs while being confined to impoverished living conditions. The quote suggests that behind the veneer of diversity and coexistence, there exists a systemic inequality that has resulted in the concentration of certain races in disadvantaged areas.

Topics