“Making it” in America

Abstract

This article takes the concept of “making it” in America as the central thrust behind immigrant entrepreneurship. The social values behind “making it” are dissected, and closely linked to the capitalist ethic of utilitarianism. Immigrant entrepreneurs are found to play the part of both oppressed and oppressors. They are tools of large corporations, their hard work used by the corporations to make money. On the other hand, the immigrants also oppress others, including workers of their own ethnic group, family members, and the American underclass. The dual oppressed-oppressor role makes the immigrants useful middlemen, as they oppress those beneath them for the benefit of those above. The article ends on a note of hope that seeing these relations clearly will enable people to break out of them.