91´«Ã½

SOCL B232 | Monday 12:15-3:00pm
Veronica Montes, 91´«Ã½

Since its establishment in 1682, Philadelphia has welcomed numerous immigrant communities. However, their settlement has often been accompanied by racial, political, cultural, religious, and social tensions. Some of the older communities include Germans, Poles, Jews, Irish, Italians, and African Americans from the South. In the mid-20th century, the city saw an influx of Puerto Ricans, Africans, and Asians. In the last 30 years, immigrants from Mexico and Central and South America have also settled here. This course aims to familiarize students with Philadelphia’s history, its socioeconomic and political transformations, and how longtime and new residents have faced these changes. Furthermore, it will explore how all these immigrant communities have contributed to Philadelphia’s reputation as the "City of Brotherly Love."

In this course, we will examine, through a sociological lens, the various factors that influence immigration. We will explore the push factors that lead immigrants to leave their homelands and the pull factors that make Philadelphia an attractive place for them to settle. Additionally, we will analyze how these push and pull factors have evolved over time and how they intersect with race, ethnicity, and gender within different migrant communities in Philadelphia. The course will highlight how immigrant communities have shaped the city at various points in history and, conversely, how the Philadelphia metropolitan region has impacted the lives of these immigrants. This course will be taught in Philadelphia as part of the Tri-Co Philly Program.  Counts for: CC; Tags: LAILS, CFS, CITY