For my Context Research Presentation I wanted to talk about what the Three Worlds Theory actually is because it was not discussed in detail, even though it was mentioned throughout Aijaz Ahmad’s section of reading. The Three World model is a way of classifying areas of the world, first made in the 1970’s during the Cold War. The First World were the capitalist nations, the Second being the communist, and the Third World being those that were either neutral or could not be put into either category. These Third World countries were mostly those that were previously colonized by either of the First or Second Worlds. While the first three categories were defined by political and economic status, the Third World seemed to be purely defined as those that were previously controlled by other nations. While there is an easy transition for either of the First or Second worlds to become the other by changing their politico-economic stance, there is no clear path for a ‘Third World’ country to become one of the others, which keeps itself defined as previously oppressed. This causes the country to be in large part ignored for its economic or cultural traits unlike the other two. While the original purpose of the Three World model was to define the two blocs that made up the Cold War, it in turn left out all of the other nations that did not have a large international presence at the time and in turn has caused them to be forgotten in a sense. Even after the Cold War has ended, the model is still taught to this day to define countries that either still do not have a large international presence or those that have been forgotten in our Euro-centric history classes. Ahmad suggests in his reading that we think of individual experiences instead of looking at “World” a story comes from to form a collective to form an idea of the human experience, and I would have to agree wholeheartedly.

Sources:

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ziliao_665539/3602_665543/3604_665547/t18008.shtml

https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-1a/red-dawn.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-world_model

In the writing, Judith Ortiz Cofer tell her story of being a young Puerto Rican girl who’s family has just moved to the United States during the mid 1960s. She talks about how difficult things were for her as she struggled with American animosity towards immigrants. She cites an instance where a man says “you PR kids put your dirty hands on stuff. You always look dirty…” (Ortiz Cofer). Unfortunately, instances such as this would have been all to common in 1960s America. The 60s were a time of change in the United States. As millions of African Americans battled for civil rights, there was also a strong push for immigration reform. With pressure from the civil rights movement as well as some politicians, the Immigration Act of 1965 was passed. “the bill marked a dramatic break with past immigration policy… In place of the national-origins quota system, the act provided for preferences to be made according to categories, such as relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents”(History.com). The act changed the lives of not just immigrants around the world but also many Americans. People believed “in debating an overhaul of immigration policy in the 1960s, many in Congress had argued that little would change” (Ludden). However, those who believed they would see very little change were very wrong. The act allowed millions of South American and Latino immigrants access to the U.S. This influx of citizens created a more competitive job market which in turn lead to a growing animosity towards immigrants of Latin American decent. Ortiz Cofer experienced first hand what this animosity looked like.

After 60 years some immigrants still have to deal with American prejudices and opposition on a daily basis. However, today’s views of immigrants may not be as straight forward as they may of been in the 60s. For example, the U.S. border with Mexico has been a hot bed for political debate as Americans try to deal with illegal immigration. Most of these views towards immigrants come from racial biases stemming from the 1960s. In todays America, “50.7 percent of immigrant heads of household owned their own homes, compared with 65.2 percent of U.S.-born heads of household” (Nicholson). This highlights how those who are determined to better their lives will ultimately succeed in achieving their American Dream. Unfortunately, the freedoms many immigrants enjoy today were at the expense of previous generations such as Judith Ortiz Cofer and her family. Overall, understanding the social and political movements that coincide with the story allow for a much more comprehensive view.

Works Cited

the CAP Immigration Team and Michael D. Nicholson. “The Facts on Immigration Today: 2017 Edition.” Center for American Progress, www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2017/04/20/430736/facts-immigration-today-2017-edition/.

History.com Editors. “U.S. Immigration Since 1965.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 5 Mar. 2010, www.history.com/topics/immigration/us-immigration-since-1965

Ludden, Jennifer. “1965 Immigration Law Changed Face of America.” NPR, NPR, 9 May 2006, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5391395.

Ortiz Cofer, Judith. “The Story of My Body.” True Women and Real Men.