Professor urges multicultural activism

Roger Sanjek looks around the United States and sees unprecedented diversity. According to Sanjek, a professor of Anthropology at the City University of New York's Queens College campus, not only will the ethnic melting pot get richer and richer, but minorities must also find a voice in their neighborhoods and communities. In a talk entitled "Color-full Before Color Blind: The Emergence of Multiracial Neighborhood Politics in Queens, New York," the urban anthropologist addressed about 30 Penn students and faculty members in 200 College Hall on a New York neighborhood that he studied in his book titled The Future of All of Us. The 1 1/2-hour talk was more of a reading than an actual discussion, as he spent the majority of the time reading from his working papers. The event was organized by the Urban Studies Department as part of a program in which the major's juniors choose an author whose work they study in a senior seminar to meet in person. The focus of Sanjek's research was Elmhurst-Corona in Queens, New York, which has been called "perhaps the most ethnically mixed community in the world." The region underwent a dramatic transition in the 1970s when the white population fell from 98 percent in 1960 to 67 percent in 1970. At the same time, an influx of immigrants from China, Korea, India, Colombia and Cuba, among other countries, generated mixed feelings among members of existing communities of European origins. "Some local whites were antagonistic or indifferent, others sought accommodation and even formed new friendships," he said. "All were intensely aware of change going on around them. It was impossible to do otherwise." According to Sanjek, fears of welfare tenants and illegal immigrants masked the real issues of overbuilding, reduced maintenance and crowded classrooms -- problems that mushroomed after the city's budget cuts between 1975 and 1983. When the inhabitants of Elmherst-Corona failed to find a voice in electoral politics, Sanjek said, "parapolitical civic activism became more important." It began with individuals Sanjek calls "wardens" who took steps against issues like litter, drugs and prostitution. Latin American, Puerto Rican, Korean and other ethnic organizations joined hands with existing community boards, neighborhood groups and business associations to improve the community as well. This political organization not only bridged the gap between established communities and newcomers -- it also led to positive, lasting change. Sanjek encouraged minorities to participate in their neighborhood grassroots organizations to avoid political ineffectiveness. "According to one demographic projection, the proportion of whites will fall from from its present 74 percent to 50 percent," Sanjek said in his closing remarks. "The more divided the power of numbers, the more likely the worst will prevail," he added. Urban Studies majors, in particular, enjoyed the talk. "It was very interesting to see the author in person and to hear more about the process of his research, " College senior Kristina Rencic said. "Those who have not read the book might be inspired to learn more about this community."