Observe immigrants not as they come travel-wan up the…
“Observe immigrants not as they come travel-wan up the gang-plank, nor as they issue toil-begrimed from the pit's mouth or mill-gate, but in their gatherings, washed, combed, and in their Sunday best… [They] are hirsute, low-browed, big-faced persons of obviously low mentality... They simply look out of place in black clothes and stiff collar, since clearly they belong in skins, in wattled huts at the close of the Great Ice Age. These ox-like men are descendants of those who always stayed behind.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author describes immigrants in derogatory, dehumanizing terms, reflecting racial prejudice and fear of the "other."
In simple terms: Immigrants are portrayed as inferior and threatening.
Challenge stereotypes and promote empathy.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- community integration
- education curricula
- media representation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies counter xenophobic narratives?
- What policies foster inclusion?
Such views ignore individual humanity and can fuel discrimination.