Dyckman Farmhouse Museum presents History In Focus 2025:
A Virtual Lecture Series on
Immigrant History in Upper Manhattan
“Diversity and it’s Limits: Attitudes Towards Immigration in New York” with Dr. Philip Kasinitz
June 18th, 2025
12pm on Zoom
FREE!
REGISTER HERE!
New York’s history has long been the history of migrants and newcomers. Since the days of Dutch New Amsterdam, waves of migrants—some voluntary, some not—have continually remade the city. Historically, immigrants have accounted for almost all of the City’s population growth as well as its emergence as a center of economic activity and cultural innovation.
Despite its long history of ethnic and racial conflict, New Yorkers have generally been more favorably disposed towards immigration—if not necessarily towards all groups of immigrants– than most Americans. However, last year’s influx of refugees, many of whom were bused to New York, has presented the city with new challenges. The mayor described this influx as “unprecedented” and feared that it could “destroy the city”. More recently the policies of the Trump administration have framed migration as a “crisis” and local and federal policies have increasingly come into conflict.
For the FINAL presentation of History in Focus 2025, Dr. Philip Kasinitz will explore some of the history of how New York has received immigrants and discuss what is and is not new about the present situation. Dr. Kasinitz will also present the surprising findings of a new survey on attitudes towards migrants among today’s New Yorkers.
Philip Kasinitz is Presidential Professor of Sociology and director of the Advanced Research Collaborative at the City University of New York Graduate Center, where he founded the Master’s program in International Migration Studies. His co-authored book Inheriting the City: The Children of Immigrants Come of Age received the American Sociological Association Distinguished Book Award and the Eastern Sociological Society’s Mira Komarovsky Book award. Other recent works include Growing Up Muslim in Europe and the United Sates and Global Cities, Local Streets. Former President of the Eastern Sociological Society, he serves on The Russell Sage Foundation’s committee on Race, Ethnicity and Immigration and the Historical Advisory Committee of the Ellis Island Museum.
This program is supported, in part, by, the Honorable Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Council, District 10.
