Jackson Heights, N.Y., may be a model for immigrant diversity
December 2, 2010
By Juliana Vasquez for the Tucson Weekly
photo by Juliana Vasquez
NEW YORK — A stroll down Roosevelt Avenue up to 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights, N.Y., is like walking into the world at large.
An Indian sari shop here, a Bangladeshi market there; across the street, an Argentinean steakhouse.
A table covered with glittering, iridescent Indian-style scarves and shawls sits outside of a shop on 37th just below a jewelry store. Ali Wagar, the owner, stands outside, watching and waiting for his next customer as people rush by on the always-busy New York streets.
“The great part of the immigrant majority here,” Wagar said, “is that they all contribute great things to the community.”
While the illegal-immigration debate continues to divide communities across the country, havens for immigrant businesses like Jackson Heights in Queens, N.Y., shed light on the successes and challenges of immigrant integration.
Border Journalism Network 