Pick two of the essays below and answer them. In the essays, you need to demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of historical themes, historical facts, specific historical events and key individuals. You should be able to answer each essay in about 600 words (thats about 5-6 paragraphs). In each essay, you must provide at least two quotations or citations from readings (or the documentaries) that were assigned during the semester (do not use sources that were not assigned). Be sure to read the questions/prompts carefully. Ideally submit final exam essays on blackboard as only one document (meaning put your two essays in one document and submit it). I should be able to identify which essays you are answering, but good if you make it clear (for example if you answer essay 1 and 3, put essay 1 and essay 3 before each essay). It is due Friday Dec 16, but you can submit earlier then that). If you submit it after that, it will have a very negative impact on your grade.
What has been the experience of black New Yorkers, other people of color, and immigrants to NYC from 1900 to the present? In your essay, be sure to discuss when these different groups moved to NYC during this period, what obstacles and difficulties they faced, in what ways they organized to improve their situation, and how the city has benefited from these groups coming to NYC. Also, what are some examples of different forms of culture (music, art, and literature) in this period that were created by people of color and immigrants?
One way of looking at NYCs history from 1900 to the present is to see it as period where there have been moments of progress (i.e., periods when economy was good and working-class New Yorkers and other oppressed groups such as members of the LBGTQ community did better) and moments of decline when these groups did less well and the gap between the rich and poor grew. What were moments of progress in this period? What were periods when regression, decline, and economic crisis? What explains why the city went into financial and economic crisis at certain points?
What do you think are four of the most significant challenges facing NYC today? Discuss each of them. Also are these challenges new or have they been challenges that the city has faced in the past and if so how?
The period from 1974 to the present have been a time of massive change for the city. Discuss in what way that is the case in terms of changes to the citys economy, politics, population change, and culture. Be sure to be specific and discuss the role of different mayors and policies they advocated for. Also be sure to explain how these changes are connected to broader national and international trends.
