Island of Hope, Island of Tears (DVD Print)

Summary

This poignant narrative recounts the arduous journeys of millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, seeking a new life in America. From leaving their homelands amidst industrial changes and political unrest to enduring cramped and unsanitary conditions on ships, these individuals faced numerous challenges. Upon arrival, they were met with the bureaucratic process of Ellis Island, where they were inspected for diseases, questioned about their intentions, and often faced the heartache of family separation. The script vividly captures the emotions of hope, fear, and determination as they pursued the American dream.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Over twelve million people passed through Ellis Island, symbolizing a massive human migration to America.
• 🎫 Immigrants exchanged their local currencies for dollars, highlighting the economic transition they underwent.
• 🎵 They experienced cultural assimilation early on, singing American songs and celebrating American holidays.
• 🚫 Despite the hope, some immigrants were turned away, leaving a poignant reminder of the struggles to enter America.
• 🏭 The push factors for migration included industrial changes, political unrest, increased unemployment, and poverty in Europe.
• 🚢 Immigrants from Southern European ports like Naples, Piraeus, Trieste, and Constantinople boarded ships to America.
• 🛂 Upon arrival, immigrants faced rigorous health inspections and processing to prevent the spread of diseases like trachoma.
• 🚧 The journey to America was arduous, with many traveling in steerage conditions, reflecting the steamship companies' focus on profit.
• 🏥 Ellis Island became a processing center where immigrants were inspected, and many faced the fear of rejection and deportation.
• 🏛️ The Great Hall at Ellis Island was the final testing ground where immigrants' fate to enter America was decided.
• 🌆 For those who made it through, the sense of freedom and opportunity in America was profound, marking a new beginning.

Q & A

How many people passed through the place described in the script?

Over twelve million men, women, and children passed through the place described in the script.

What currencies did immigrants trade for dollars at this location?

Immigrants traded their drachmas, liras, and rubles for dollars.

Why did some immigrants choose to leave Europe for America?

Some immigrants left Europe for America due to industrial change, political unrest, increased joblessness, and poverty, as well as the promise of a better future and perhaps fortune in America.

Which European ports were mentioned as gathering points for immigrants to board ships to America?

The script mentions the southern European ports of Naples, Piraeus, Trieste, and Constantinople as gathering points for immigrants to board ships to America.

What was the significance of the steamship companies in the immigrant journey?

The steamship companies were significant as they were responsible for housing, feeding, and processing immigrants, as well as transporting them to America, often in steerage class.

What was the purpose of the delousing and fumigation processes immigrants underwent?

The delousing and fumigation processes were implemented to prevent the spread of diseases and epidemics, ensuring the health of the immigrants and the general population.

What was the common experience of immigrants regardless of the type of vessel they boarded?

The common experience of immigrants, regardless of the type of vessel, was traveling in steerage class, which was characterized by crowded and often unsanitary conditions.

Why did some immigrants feel the need to escape to the deck during their voyage?

Some immigrants escaped to the deck to get fresh air and escape the noise of the engines and the odor of spoiled food, as the conditions below deck were often unbearable.

What was the first impression of America for some immigrants when they saw the city skyline?

For some immigrants, their first impression of America was one of awe and disbelief, with one person even questioning if the city they saw was on earth or in heaven, reflecting the grandeur and hope it represented to them.

Why did some immigrants feel a sense of fear and uncertainty upon arrival at Ellis Island?

Immigrants felt a sense of fear and uncertainty because of the unfamiliar environment, the process of immigration inspections, and the possibility of being rejected and sent back to their countries of origin.

What was the role of the Board of Inquiry at Ellis Island?

The Board of Inquiry was the last chance for rejected immigrants to appeal their cases and try to persuade officials to allow them entry into America, overcoming the complexities of immigration laws.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Journey to America: The Great Migration

The script opens with a reflection on the historical significance of Ellis Island as a gateway for over twelve million immigrants who passed through its corridors, leaving behind their native lands to seek a better life in America. The narrator describes the emotional and financial exchanges that took place, as well as the cultural experiences of the immigrants such as singing American songs and celebrating holidays. It also touches on the hardships faced by those who were turned away and the reasons for migration, including industrial changes, political unrest, and persecution in their home countries.

05:01

🚂 Travel to the Ports and Boarding Ships

This paragraph details the arduous journey of immigrants to the railheads and ports in Northern Europe, where they sought passage to America. The experiences varied from those who had money for the journey to those who had to rely on luck. The conditions on the trains were likened to those of animals being transported. Upon reaching the port cities, immigrants were processed by the steamship companies, which were focused on efficiency and profit. The process included delousing, fumigating, and preparing the immigrants for the long sea journey to America.

10:03

🚢 The Harrowing Sea Voyage

The narrative shifts to the difficult conditions faced by immigrants during their sea voyage in steerage. The cramped, dark, and unsanitary conditions led to illness and despair. The food was meager, and the lack of proper facilities added to the misery. The emotional toll is highlighted by the accounts of those who wished for the ship to sink to escape the terrible conditions. Despite the hardships, the hope of reaching America remained strong.

15:03

🗽 Arrival at Ellis Island

Upon arrival at Ellis Island, immigrants were met with a mix of awe and trepidation. The sight of the Statue of Liberty and the island itself was a stark contrast to their previous conditions. However, the process of entering the island's great building and the uncertainty of what lay ahead caused anxiety. The immigrants were processed, often with little regard for their personal belongings or the emotional stress of separation from family members. The fear and hope are palpable as they await their fate.

20:04

🏥 Health Inspections and the Struggle for Acceptance

This section delves into the health inspections that immigrants underwent at Ellis Island, focusing on the fear of being deemed unfit for entry into America. The process was rigorous, with a focus on identifying and rejecting those with contagious diseases or other health issues. The emotional impact of potential rejection and separation from family is emphasized, as is the relief of those who were cleared to enter the country.

25:06

🍽️ Adjusting to America: First Tastes and Final Approvals

The final paragraph describes the immigrants' experiences as they adjusted to American life, starting with their first tastes of American food and the overwhelming feeling of freedom. It highlights the bureaucratic process of gaining entry, including the challenges of language barriers and the importance of having the necessary documents. The narrative concludes with a sense of hope and the immigrants' determination to start a new life in America, free from the hardships they left behind.

🏘️ Embracing the New Land: The Promise of America

The script concludes with the immigrants reflecting on their journey and the emotional impact of finally reaching America. There is a sense of fulfillment and gratitude for the opportunities that America represents. The immigrants express their hopes for a better future, free from the persecution and poverty they experienced in their homelands. The narrative captures the profound transformation from being outcasts in their own countries to becoming valued members of a new society.

Keywords

💡Immigration

Immigration refers to the act of moving to a new country with the intention of residing there permanently. In the context of the video, it highlights the mass movement of people from Europe and the Near East to America, driven by economic hardship and political unrest. The script mentions 'OVER TWELVE MILLION MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, PASSED THIS WAY', illustrating the sheer scale of immigration and the transformative impact on the immigrants' lives.

💡Ellis Island

Ellis Island was the historical gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the United States as a federal immigration station from 1892 to 1954. The video script references Ellis Island as 'THE PLACE, THAT HAD BECOME A LEGEND IN THEIR MIND', emphasizing its significance as a symbol of hope and a new beginning for immigrants.

💡Steerage

Steerage refers to the lowest class of passenger accommodation on a ship, typically crowded and uncomfortable. In the script, steerage is mentioned to depict the harsh conditions immigrants faced during their voyage: 'THEY WERE TRAVELING STEERAGE', indicating the economic status of many immigrants and the sacrifices they made for a chance at a better life.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their race, religion, or other characteristics. The script touches on discrimination with 'THE HISTORIC PERSECUTOR OF THE ARMENIAN, SLOVAK, AND JEW', showcasing the historical context of persecution that drove many to seek refuge in America.

💡Industrial Change

Industrial change refers to the transformation of economies from manual labor to more mechanized processes. The video mentions 'INDUSTRIAL CHANGE AND POLITICAL UNREST' as factors contributing to 'INCREASED JOBLESSNESS, AND POVERTY', which in turn pushed people to leave their homelands in search of better opportunities in America.

💡Deportation

Deportation is the removal of a person from one country to another, especially because they are not a citizen or have violated immigration laws. The script alludes to the fear of deportation with 'THE DIAGNOSIS FOR WHICH COULD LEAD, TO ALMOST CERTAIN DEPORTATION', highlighting the high stakes and anxiety immigrants faced during the immigration process.

💡Persecution

Persecution is the act of treating someone unfairly or cruelly, especially because of their religious or political beliefs. The video script mentions 'THE POLICE, THE HISTORIC PERSECUTOR OF THE ARMENIAN, SLOVAK, AND JEW', illustrating the reasons why certain groups were particularly motivated to flee their homelands and seek safety in America.

💡Cultural Assimilation

Cultural assimilation is the process by which a minority group or culture comes to resemble those of a dominant group. The video hints at this with 'HERE THEY SANG THEIR FIRST AMERICAN SONGS', suggesting the beginning of a new cultural identity for immigrants while also retaining elements of their heritage.

💡Economic Opportunity

Economic opportunity refers to the availability of work and the potential for financial gain. The script speaks of 'THERE WAS A FUTURE, PERHAPS A FORTUNE TO BE MADE' in America, which underscores the allure of the 'American Dream' and the hope for a better economic life that motivated many immigrants.

💡Health Inspection

Health inspection is the process of examining people, animals, or goods to ensure they meet health and safety standards. In the video, 'TRACHOMA, THE DREADED DISEASE OF THE IMMIGRANT' and the mention of 'DELOUSE YOU' highlight the rigorous health inspections immigrants underwent to prevent the spread of disease and ensure only healthy individuals entered the country.

💡Family Separation

Family separation refers to the forced division of family units, often due to external circumstances. The script poignantly describes this with 'THOSE IDENTIFIED, TO BE SET ASIDE FOR POSSIBLE REJECTION REPRESENTED, A SMALL PERCENTAGE EXAMINED EACH DAY', showing the emotional toll and fear of losing loved ones during the immigration process.

Highlights

Over twelve million people passed through rooms and corridors that were once noisy with human life.

Immigrants traded their native currencies for dollars upon arrival.

Many experienced their first American Christmas and Hanukkah within these walls.

Immigrants waited for permission to pass over to the new land.

Some immigrants were turned away, leaving part of themselves in America.

Leaving home was described as one of the hardest things people ever had to do.

Reasons to leave Europe included industrial change, political unrest, increased joblessness, and poverty.

In America, there was a promise of a future and perhaps a fortune to be made.

Immigrants gathered at southern European ports to board ships to America.

Some were birds of passage, leaving to seek work and return.

Rural areas of Eastern Europe faced additional reasons to look to America, such as conscription and persecution.

The whole town would come to say goodbye as immigrants left.

Immigrants made their way to railheads seeking passage to the sea.

Some immigrants traveled without paying for their tickets, relying on luck.

Immigrants were treated like cargo, likened to a load of pigs or calves.

Entering the great port cities of Northern Europe was like entering a new world.

Immigrants were processed for the passage to America in huge facilities fearing epidemics.

The journey to America could last from a week to a month.

Some immigrants had a voyage without incident, while others were ill-prepared for the conditions.

Immigrants were given sparse meals and lived in dark, crowded conditions below deck.

The first sight of the New York skyline was met with awe and disbelief.

Immigrants approached Ellis Island with a mix of hope and trepidation.

Ellis Island was seen as a whole city, a place that made immigrants feel small.

Immigrants entered the great building with little more than the clothes on their back.

The process at Ellis Island would last less than a day for the majority.

Immigrants feared the police and government, associating them with tyranny and persecution.

The diagnosis of trachoma could lead to almost certain deportation.

Immigrants were separated from their families during the examination process.

America wanted immigrants who were healthy and could support themselves.

The dining room at Ellis Island fed thousands and was a place of chaos.

Immigrants were given a chance to make their case if detained.

The Registry Desk was where the vast majority faced their first and last test.

Immigrants faced questions about their money and intentions upon arrival.

The island passed them through, and the door to America opened.

Immigrants felt they had entered a free land, a place where they could become human beings again.

There was a collective hope that the degradation and abuse of Europe would not be found in America.

Transcripts

[ OPENING MUSIC PLAYS ]

Narrator: OVER TWELVE MILLION MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN

PASSED THIS WAY,

PASSED THROUGH ROOMS AND CORRIDORS

HAUNTED WITH A SPECIAL STILLNESS WHICH REMAINS ONLY IN PLACES

ONCE NOISY WITH HUMAN LIFE.

HERE THEY BOUGHT TICKETS

FOR A THOUSAND PLACES IN AMERICA.

HERE THEY TRADED THEIR DRACHMAS, THEIR LIRAS,

AND THEIR RUBLES, FOR DOLLARS.

HERE THEY SANG THEIR FIRST AMERICAN SONGS,

EXPERIENCED THEIR FIRST AMERICAN CHRISTMAS,

AND HANUKKAH.

HERE THEY WAITED TO BE GIVEN PERMISSION

TO PASS OVER TO THE NEW LAND.

TENS OF MILLIONS OF US

HAVE RELATIVES WHO CAME THIS WAY,

SAT IN THIS ROOM,

PART OF THE LARGEST HUMAN MIGRATION IN HISTORY.

OF THE MANY WHO CAME,

SOME WERE TURNED AWAY.

BUT EVEN THEY WOULD LEAVE PART OF THEMSELVES IN AMERICA,

TO REMIND US WHY THEY HAD COME SO FAR,

WHY THEY HAD MADE THE JOURNEY.

Woman: YOU NEVER KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO LEAVE HER.

THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING I THINK I EVER HAD TO DO.

Man: SHE SAID IF YOU LEAVE,

WHY, I DON'T EVER WANT YOU TO COME BACK AGAIN.

Woman: LONG HARD LIFE

IT WAS.

Narrator: EUROPE HAD ALWAYS LOST ITS CHILDREN TO AMERICA,

AND NOW THERE WERE NEW REASONS TO LEAVE.

INDUSTRIAL CHANGE AND POLITICAL UNREST

HAD BROUGHT INCREASED JOBLESSNESS

AND POVERTY TO ITALY AND SOUTHERN EUROPE,

AND REACHING AS FAR NORTH AS THE INDUSTRIAL CITIES

OF POLAND AND RUSSIA.

IN AMERICA, THEY WERE SAYING, THERE WAS A FUTURE,

PERHAPS A FORTUNE TO BE MADE.

IN THE SOUTHERN EUROPEAN PORTS

OF NAPLES, PIRAEUS,

TRIESTE, AND CONSTANTINOPLE,

THEY GATHERED TO BOARD THE SHIPS TO AMERICA.

SOME WERE BIRDS OF PASSAGE,

LEAVING TO SEEK WORK AND RETURN.

OTHERS WITH HOPES TO FIND AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY

THE GOOD, PERMANENT LIFE THAT AWAITED,

THEY WERE TOLD, THREE THOUSAND MILES ACROSS THE SEA.

IN THE RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN EUROPE,

THEY HAD, IN ADDITION TO POVERTY,

OTHER REASONS TO LOOK TO AMERICA.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING YOUNG BOYS TO THE ARMY.

IN A MOTHER'S LIFETIME SHE MIGHT NOT SEE HIM AGAIN.

AND ALWAYS THERE WAS THE POLICE,

THE HISTORIC PERSECUTOR OF THE ARMENIAN,

SLOVAK, AND JEW.

Woman: YOU KNOW WHAT I SEE NOW,

I SEE THE PEASANT WITH A WAGON AND HAY

TO TAKE ME, TAKE ME AWAY.

THE WHOLE TOWN WAS AROUND MY WAGON.

EVERYBODY CAME TO SAY GOODBYE.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SAY GOODBYE.

Man: POLAND, RUSSIA, ROMANIA,

AND EVERYBODY JUST WANTED

TO GET OUT OF THERE.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

Narrator: MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE RAILHEADS,

THEY SOUGHT PASSAGE TO THE SEA.

SOME HAD MONEY FOR THE JOURNEY

AND SOME DID NOT.

BUT TURNING BACK WAS SELDOM AN ALTERNATIVE.

Man: I DIDN'T PAY NO TICKET.

GET ON A TRAIN

AND PRAY FOR LUCK.

Man: THEY CARRIED US JUST LIKE

YOU WOULD CARRY A LOAD, A BUNCH OF PIGS.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO MOVE A BUNCH OF CALVES,

A BUNCH OF PIGS, WOULD YOU PUT THEM IN A PASSENGER CAR?

THAT'S THE WAY THEY LOOKED AT US.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

Narrator: FOR MANY,

ENTERING THE GREAT PORT CITIES OF NORTHERN EUROPE

WAS LIKE ENTERING A NEW WORLD.

THEY HAD REACHED THE SEA,

AND THE IMMIGRANT WAS NOW

IN THE HANDS OF THE STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

[ SHIP'S HORN BLOWS ]

IMMIGRANTS FROM THE EAST AND NORTH SWARMED INTO BREMEN,

ANTWERP, HAMBURG, AND LIVERPOOL,

TO BE PROCESSED FOR THE PASSAGE TO AMERICA.

THEY STOOD IN LINE TOGETHER,

THOSE WHO SAW AMERICA AS AN ADVENTURE,

WITH THOSE WHO SAW AMERICA AS A BEACON OF HOPE.

IT WAS A BUSINESS OF NUMBERS,

AN OPERATION DESIGNED TO HOUSE, FEED, AND PROCESS

FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE AT A TIME,

TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHOM AMERICAN AUTHORITIES

MIGHT REJECT AND RETURN TO EUROPE AT STEAMSHIP EXPENSE.

Woman: FIRST THING THEY DO WITH YOU IS DELOUSE YOU.

LOOK YOUR HAIR ALL OVER.

YOUR HAIR, IF THERE WAS A NIT IN YOUR HAIR THEY WOULD--

YOU WOULD HAVE TO SHAMPOO IT.

Narrator: FEARING EPIDEMICS, HUGE FACILITIES WERE ESTABLISHED

TO FUMIGATE CLOTHING, BAGGAGE, AND PEOPLE.

PROCESSED AND TICKETED,

THEY WAITED FOR THEIR SHIP.

[ SHIP'S HORN BLOWS ]

THEY BOARDED IN MANY PARTS OF EUROPE

AND IN MANY KINDS OF VESSELS,

MOST TO NEW YORK AND SOME TO OTHER PORTS.

BUT THEY HAD ONE THING IN COMMON.

THEY WERE TRAVELING STEERAGE,

AND THE STEAMSHIP COMPANIES

UNDERSTOOD THE PROFIT IN NUMBERS.

[ SHIP'S HORN BLOWS ]

THEY BEGAN A JOURNEY THAT COULD LAST FROM A WEEK TO A MONTH.

[ SHIP'S HORN BLOWS ]

Woman: THAT WAS THE LAST TIME IT EVER RAN AGAIN.

THAT WAS THE LAST TRIP SHE MADE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE NEVER MADE THAT ONE EITHER.

Narrator: FOR SOME IT WOULD BE A VOYAGE WITHOUT INCIDENT.

FOR OTHERS, THE CROSSING WOULD PROVIDE DAYS FOR WHICH

THEY WERE ILL PREPARED.

Man: THEY GAVE US A TIN PLATE,

WITH A FORK AND A SPOON,

A CUP OF SOUP

AND NOT MUCH BREAD.

FIFTEEN DAYS.

Man: THERE WAS ALL ONE BIG ROOM.

IT WAS IN THE CELLAR.

THERE WAS LITTLE LIGHTS GOING ON THERE ALL THE TIME.

LITTLE LIGHTS.

WE WERE RIDING IN THE STEERAGE,

LIKE ANIMALS.

Woman: YOU COULD SEE A LOT OF WATER,

BUT WE DIDN'T SEE THE SKY.

NO SKY.

Narrator: TO ESCAPE THE THROBBING ENGINES

AND THE ODOR OF SPOILED FOOD, THOSE WITH BLANKETS

CAME ON DECK FOR AIR.

Man: SHE WAS SICK ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE TOILETS WERE

AND SO THEY HAD TO USE THE--

IT WAS A TERRIBLE LIFE.

Woman: I PRAYED ONE NIGHT

THAT THAT SHIP WOULD GO DOWN.

IT WAS SO HORRIBLE.

IT HAD TO STOP FOR AWHILE FOR SOME,

YOU KNOW, THE WAVES WAS WASHING--

I WAS VERY SICK.

OH, GOD, I PRAYED IT WOULD GO DOWN.

Man: THERE WAS ONLY ONE THING IN MY MIND.

I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THERE,

AND TO COME TO AMERICA.

Man: IT APPEARED,

LIKE IN A FOG.

AND EVERYBODY WENT OVER TO THE RAILING.

JUST ADMIRING.

Man: I THOUGHT I WAS-- I THOUGHT I WAS IN HEAVEN.

MY GOD, THIS--

IS THIS A CITY ON EARTH

OR IS THIS A CITY IN HEAVEN?

I'D NEVER SEEN A BUILDING LIKE THAT.

BUT BEAUTIFUL.

I HAD TO CRY.

Woman: EVERYBODY WAS JUST WAITING TO GET OFF THAT,

STANDING, WAITING TO GET OFF THAT SHIP.

[ SHIP'S HORN BLOWS ]

Woman: YOU WERE JUST WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE COMING TO

OR WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, IN YOUR MIND.

[ SHIP'S HORN BLOWS ]

Narrator: STILL SEPARATED FROM THE FIRST CLASS

AND CABIN PASSENGERS WHO WERE PROCESSED

BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ON BOARD,

THE IMMIGRANT FROM STEERAGE

WAITED YET ANOTHER BOAT RIDE,

THIS ONE FROM THE HUDSON RIVER PIER

TO AN ISLAND IN THE UPPER BAY.

CROWDED INTO BARGES AND FERRIES, THEY APPROACHED THE PLACE

THAT HAD BECOME A LEGEND IN THEIR MIND.

Woman: I COULDN'T GET MY EYES OFF THAT.

IT'S GREAT.

I WAS KIND OF GLAD TO SEE ELLIS ISLAND,

AS BAD AS IT WAS.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE ANY KIND OF LAND,

IT WAS.

Woman: ACCORDING TO THE HOUSES I LEFT IN MY TOWN,

THIS WAS LIKE--

LIKE A WHOLE CITY,

THAT I ALMOST FELT SMALLER THAN I AM.

Man: AND WHEN I CAME THROUGH THESE DOORS

I SAW ALL THESE PEOPLE THERE, I FIGURED, WELL,

I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO STAY HERE FOR GOOD PROBABLY,

BECAUSE, ALL THESE PEOPLE,

WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?

AND NOBODY WAS HAPPY.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

Woman: I HAD A COAT AND A DRESS

AND A PAIR OF SHOES,

THAT'S IT.

Man: ONE SUITCASE I HAD WITH ME

AND ABOUT--

ABOUT FIFTY DOLLARS I GUESS.

Woman: MY BASKET--MY LITTLE BASKET,

THAT'S ALL I HAD WITH ME.

YOU WERE LUCKY TO HAVE THE ONE.

Man: WE HAD NO OTHER POSSESSIONS BUT THAT.

WE HAD NO BAGGAGE.

WE HAD NOTHING.

Woman: NOTHING EXCEPT THE CLOTHES.

WE HAD NOTHING.

Narrator: CLINGING TO THEIR POSSESSIONS,

THEY ENTERED THE GREAT BUILDING

AND CLIMBED THE STAIRS.

Woman: JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, I SAYS, WHERE AM I?

Man: THEY WOULD COME RIGHT IN

TO THE BIG HALL,

AND THERE THEY WERE TOLD TO SIT AND STAY THERE,

AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE.

IT WAS A NEW LAND BUT THEY HADN'T BEEN IN LAND--

IT WAS JUST A BIG HALL.

AND ALL YOU COULD GET WAS TEARS

AND CRYING OF THE CHILDREN.

Narrator: FOR THE VAST MAJORITY,

THE PROCESS WOULD LAST LESS THAN A DAY.

BUT NOW THEY WAITED,

THOSE FROM EUROPE AND THE NEAR EAST,

WITH THOSE WHO HAD ARRIVED FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

THOSE WHO WERE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY

TO COME TO AMERICA

WITH THOSE WHO WOULD BE MET.

THOSE WHO CAME TO MAKE MONEY AND RETURN,

WITH THOSE WHO WERE DETERMINED

NEVER TO RETURN.

Man: SO THEY ALL HAD

THIS FEAR, THIS WORRY.

THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT POLICE,

'CAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS CHECKED IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES.

Man: THE WORD "GOVERNMENT" FRIGHTENED ME.

GOVERNMENT WAS TYRANNY,

GOVERNMENT WAS OFFICERS WHO

LOOKED AT YOU WITH THE SENSE THAT THEY WANTED

TO HATE YOU OR ELIMINATE YOU,

AND THE IDEA THAT THERE IS DEMOCRACY

OR THAT THE POLICEMEN WILL HELP YOU

WAS VERY NEW TO ME.

A POLICEMAN, TO ME,

WAS SOMEONE WHO COULD CUT MY HEAD OFF.

Man: THAT WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING

FOR EVERYBODY TO GO THROUGH--

THE EYES.

Narrator: TRACHOMA,

THE DREADED DISEASE OF THE IMMIGRANT,

THE DIAGNOSIS FOR WHICH COULD LEAD

TO ALMOST CERTAIN DEPORTATION.

Woman: IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY PUT A CHALK MARK HERE,

A CHALK MARK THERE.

Narrator: THOSE IDENTIFIED

TO BE SET ASIDE FOR POSSIBLE REJECTION REPRESENTED

A SMALL PERCENTAGE EXAMINED EACH DAY.

BUT THIS WAS LITTLE CONSOLATION TO A FAMILY SEPARATED.

Woman: YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KNOW THE PEOPLE,

BUT YOU KNOW THAT SOMEBODY'S MISSING.

THE AGONY THEY WENT THROUGH.

SO YOU KNOW THAT SOMEBODY'S MISSING IN THE FAMILY.

Man: ALL OF A SUDDEN THE THOUGHT,

MY GOODNESS, THEY'RE SEPARATING US,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE POLICE ALWAYS DID.

THEY SEPARATED THE MEN FROM THE WOMEN,

AND THEN TOOK CARE OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

AS LONG AS SOME MEMBER OF THE FAMILY,

SOME LOVING MEMBER

OF THE FAMILY WAS WITH YOU, LIFE WAS TOLERABLE.

YOU LIVED IN A RELATIONSHIP OF FAMILY LOVE.

EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY,

YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE, YOU COULD CONVERSE,

YOU COULD PLAN, YOU COULD WARM EACH OTHER.

Woman: I HAD A FEELING THAT I'M LEFT ALL ALONE.

IT'S A TERRIBLE FEELING.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WERE GONE.

[ COUGHING ]

Narrator: AMERICA DID NOT WANT THE BURDEN

OF AN UNHEALTHY IMMIGRANT.

AMERICA WANTED A PERSON WHO COULD MAKE A LIVING

AND WAS NOT BRINGING INTO THE COUNTRY

AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

Woman: AND THEY LOOKED YOUR BACK OVER

AND YOUR LUNGS AND YOUR HEART

AND YOUR EVERYTHING.

AND YOU WERE SENT FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

ONE DOCTOR TO THE OTHER.

Woman: AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WAS PUT AWAY ON THE SIDE.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE BEEN SENT BACK.

Man: PEOPLE WERE REJECTED BECAUSE THEY SHOWED

OUTWARD SIGNS OF ILLNESS,

WHAT THEY CONSIDERED MENTAL DIFFICULTIES.

WE DIDN'T CALL IT PSYCHIATRY, THEY CALLED IT NEUROLOGY.

AND WE SAID, WE'RE SORRY.

AND THE SHIP THAT BROUGHT THEM HAD TO TAKE THEM BACK.

THAT WAS A TRAGEDY.

Man: I DECIDED THAT IF THEY EVER HAVE TO SEND ME BACK,

I'LL JUMP DOWN IN THE WATER.

I'LL NEVER GO BACK TO RUSSIA.

I NEVER WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN.

Narrator: BUILT FOR FIFTEEN HUNDRED,

THE DINING ROOM OFTEN FED THREE THOUSAND.

Man: THERE WOULD BE DISHES AND FORKS AND KNIVES

AND WHITE NAPKINS.

LONG TABLES, WELL SET,

BUT WHEN THE PEOPLE WENT IN, IT WAS LIKE--LIKE CHAOS.

THEY HANDED US FOOD.

FOOD WAS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE GAVE YOU.

I DIDN'T LIKE IT,

BUT THEN I TASTED IT AGAIN.

I NEVER HAD SEEN A BANANA BEFORE.

Man: TO ME THE WHITE BREAD WAS LIKE CAKE ALREADY.

Narrator: AT NIGHT ELLIS SERVED AS A DORMITORY FOR THOUSANDS,

WAITING THE NEW DAY.

EACH MORNING THE GREAT HALL WOULD FILL

AND THE NOISE WOULD BEGIN AGAIN.

HOPEFULLY THEIR PAPERS WERE IN ORDER:

A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH,

A LETTER FROM A RELATIVE

GUARANTEEING THEY WOULD NOT BECOME A PUBLIC CHARGE,

PROOF THAT THEY WERE NOT A CONTRACT LABORER

OR A DANGEROUS ALIEN.

IN ADJACENT ROOMS THE DETAINED WERE GIVEN ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY

AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR CASE.

BUT EXCEPTING AN APPEAL TO WASHINGTON,

THE BOARD OF INQUIRY

WAS THE REJECTED IMMIGRANT'S LAST CHANCE.

THROUGH AN INTERPRETER,

THEY DID THEIR BEST TO PERSUADE AND TO OVERCOME THE COMPLEXITIES

OF A CHANGING IMMIGRATION LAW.

BUT IT WAS IN THE GREAT HALL WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY

FACED THEIR FIRST AND THEIR LAST TEST.

IN HIS HAND THE MAN AT THE REGISTRY DESK

HELD THE SHIP'S MANIFEST.

IN HIS POWER, THE RIGHT TO INTERPRET QUESTIONS

INTENDED TO IDENTIFY THOSE

WHO SHOULD BE LET IN OR KEPT OUT.

Man: I DIDN'T KNOW A WORD OF ENGLISH.

Man: I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, NOT ONE WORD.

FIRST QUESTION, "HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU GOT?"

Woman: YOU HAD TO HAVE FIVE POUNDS.

MY FATHER, I REMEMBER, GAVE ME THAT FIVE POUNDS.

Woman: DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG-- IT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS,

TWO AND THREE YEARS TO GET THAT TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS.

Woman: MY MOTHER, WHEN WE GOT NEARER

AND THE PERSON AT THE DESK CALLED OUR NAMES,

MY MOTHER TURNED TO ME, SHE SAYS,

"I WAS NEVER HERE, HOW DOES SHE KNOW MY NAME?"

I SAID, IT'S ALL RIGHT, MA, SHE KNOWS IT.

Man: THEY ASKED FOR MY NAME AND I TOLD THEM "LICHT"

AND THEY SAY, "HOW DO YOU SPELL IT?"

WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT

AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT,

AND THEY SPELLED IT L-I-C-H-T.

I SAID, IT'S ALL RIGHT FOR ME,

I DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

Man: BUT THEN THEY SAID, "ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN GO."

Man: "YOU'RE FREE TO GO, TO HOBOKEN."

YEAH.

Narrator: THERE WOULD STILL BE QUESTIONS

OF WHAT FOOD TO BUY FOR THE RAILROAD TRIP TO CHICAGO

OR THE BOAT TRIP TO BOSTON.

THERE WAS STILL THE STRANGE NAMES,

THE STRANGE NUMBERS, AND THE FEAR OF LOSING ONE'S MONEY.

THERE WAS THE PROCESS OF BUYING A TICKET,

TO PLACES WITH UNPRONOUNCEABLE NAMES

LIKE "PITTSBURGH," "HAMTRAMCK," AND "KEOKUK."

BUT THOSE WERE DETAILS.

THE ISLAND HAD PASSED THEM THROUGH.

THE DOOR TO AMERICA HAD OPENED.

Man: IT WAS AS IF GOD'S GREAT PROMISE

HAD BEEN FULFILLED.

Man: I'M GOING INTO A FREE LAND.

I DON'T THINK I EVER CAN EXPLAIN

THAT FEELING THAT I HAD THAT TIME.

THERE ISN'T SUCH A THING TO BE EXPLAINED.

IT CAME OUT OF MY SYSTEM.

IT'S OVER.

Man: IT'S NOT MY NATIVE LAND,

BUT IT MEANS MORE TO ME THAN MY NATIVE LAND.

IT MEANS MORE TO ME

THAN MY NATIVE LAND.

Man: ANY COUNTRY ON EARTH--

THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN--

AND BECOME A HUMAN BEING AGAIN.

IT'S A MIRACLE.

Woman: I'M GLAD I'M HERE.

COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER, COULD IT?

Man: AND EVERYBODY HAD HOPES

AND ONE THING I WAS SURE AND THOUSANDS LIKE ME,

THAT THE DEGRADATION,

THE ABUSE,

AND THE PRIVATION THAT WE HAD IN EUROPE,

WE WOULDN'T HAVE HERE.

Man: OH, GOD, YES,

HOPING FOR CENTURIES.