Diaspora

Migration Through the Lens of Diasporas The Jewish diaspora of the 8th century BCE was the first of its kind, but the term which would grow increasingly difficult to define and apply as time went on. In his essay, “Diasporas,” James Clifford attempts to elucidate the history and development of the term ‘diaspora’ and critically look at its implications. Defining the term diaspora, a task which seems simple, turns out to be the biggest obstacle to overcome in studying them, and that is what Clifford spends most of his essay doing. Clifford also looks at the kinds of cultural changes diasporas can bring about, particularly regarding feminism. Through the lens of diasporas, Clifford’s article allows for a greater understanding of migration, political or otherwise, and the effects that come with it. Defining Diaspora: That which constitutes a diaspora has been faced with…

Trade diaspora is defined by Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the World’s Peoples as “a network of merchant settlements dispersed across foreign lands but united by common origins, religion, and language, as well as by business dealings.” This definition is the best form of evidence that there was, in fact, a coherent community residing near and around the Indian Ocean by 1500. On the surface, this broad trade network is just that—a network. However, a closer look at the crises and…

This diaspora will often come from non-majority members of the sending society, be comprised heavily of families, and will closely mirror whatever the social class of the minority group was in the sending country. Regardless of whether this type of diaspora has been outside their home country for five of fifty years, it is highly unlikely to support state-driven efforts to mobilize its diaspora through political parties or economic development projects. Instead, if Class A diaspora continue to…

The Diaspora’s Influence on the Peacemaking Efforts In terms of aiding in peace, the Irish diaspora did a few different things that were absolutely vital to the establishment of peace in Ireland as well as the creation and signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Firstly to start it is important to note how important the US was in the development of peace. The US was not some small influence or bit part, but rather they were the “critical enabler and catalyst” for the peace talks that happened in…

In “Ethnicity in an Age of Diaspora” by R. Radhakrishnan theorizes how diaspora is viewed between generation and how it affects their ethnicity and background as a whole. He poses to the reader that being Indian-American, as a hyphenated aspect does not mean that an individual is being Indian. The reader begins to question, “What does “being Indian” mean in the United States? How can one be and live Indian without losing clout and leverage as Americans? How can one transform the so-called…

theorization of the African diaspora comes from the understanding of experiences and history of the dispersed people of African descent throughout the world. The diaspora of the African people has been understood through numerous means, which has allowed scholars the ability to explore the dispersion in terms of major themes, most commonly identity and memory. These themes are significant in understanding the diaspora because it allows a platform for people of African descent to comprehend and…

what African Diaspora is. The authors tackle the question of race and racism, what characteristic makes someone part of the African Diaspora, the importance of the idea of a homeland, and finally the nature of dispersal. Throughout the readings we are given many points of view. Combing every section of this course this information has impacted the way I view certain communities. For example, we cannot just assume that everyone’s story is the same or that “blackness” and “African” mean one single…

The Irish Diaspora in the US is massive with the 1990 census totalling an immense 43 million Americans consider themselves to be Irish American which at the time equated to roughly 19% of the American population(Feargal Cochrane 2007:218). Beyond just equating for a fifth of the American population, a third of American presidents having heritage to Ireland with four specifically having ties to what is now the Republic of Ireland while the other 12 are linked to Northern Ireland. Despite the fact…

Malcom X once said, “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” Reading quotes such as the one stated above and realizing that this is reality can be very alarming. People throughout the Diaspora may believe that they were never oppressed but, the honest truth is that they are and have been their whole life. Their reality is just a delightful version of the harsh actuality that their…

REWRITING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA: BEYOND THE BLACK ATLANTIC African Diaspora, is one of the largest diasporas of modern times and dates back several centuries. This term, although somewhat new is used to described the dispersal of people of African descent and their roles in both the creation and transformations of new cultures outside of Africa but also the problems faced across the globe as well. Diaspora can be labeled a way to retrace the different components and layers of migration,…