Diasporic or transnational identity as Laguerre puts it arises from transnational practices of immigrants’ communities, flow of cultural notions and global processes. Diasporic citizenship leads to some ramifications to both the citizen subject and state at large. Interaction between diasporic citizens and host citizens creates a transnational village which often leads to social remittances where flow of ideas, behaviors, identities and social capital occurs. Hosts are more interested in the influence of ethnicity, race and gender to first and second generation while the immigrant tries to maintain relations with their homeland.“Diasporic citizenship provides a way of escaping complete minoritization since the link with the homeland allows one to enjoy the majority status one cannot exercise in the adopted country” (Laguerre, 1998, p 192).

Laguerre characterizes immigration into transnational, globalization and diasporic citizenship. Transnational and interhemispheric migration result from free movements of colonists and forced movement of slaves. However, this differs from Cohens’ five characterization which are; victims, labor, trade, imperial and cultural. However, Cohen agrees that Diasporas arise from international migration (Cohen, 1997).

Diaz, in his book Drown, shows the plight of Dominican immigrants especially Yunior.The Poverty and social immobility that characterize his family’s life, results from the ghetto settlement that they find themselves in, and which they cannot leave. His father leaves his mother with a burden of raising him and his brother. He switches to endless jobs in attempts to change his family economic situation. Things are worse as he gets involved in another marriage adding more to the family. This exacerbate the situation and poverty clings farther to the family.

References

Cohen, R. (1997). Global Diasporas: An Introduction. Seattle:the University of Washington Press.

Diaz, J. (1996). Drown . New York:

Laguerre, M.S (1998). Diasporic Citizenship: Haitian Americans in Transnational America. New York: St. Martin’s Press

Cultural and Ethnic Studies

watch the concluding scene of A Touch of Spice. How does this scene bring the movie (and Fanis’s life to this point) to a close? How do you interpret the “spice galaxy” at the end? What is Fanis’ place in the galaxy? Why was it a “spice galaxy” and not so much a “food galaxy”?

The movie (no subtitles, sorry . . .) can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFxN9tebYoI