How the Rust Belt is keeping the American dream alive

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July 4th: Re-Discovering America Through Immigrant Eyes

Tenement Museum NYC: Rediscovering the American Dream

Tenement Museum NYC: Rediscovering the American Dream - Two Traveling Texans

Leadership starts very small, with you, and with me. The answer to America's identity crisis is all of us, rediscovering what it means to be American. America has been through painful transitions before, including going from an agrarian to industrial economy, and during this transition, I have every confidence that we will evolve and endure once again.

That won't happen if we continue to let a demagogic leader continue to cast a pall of fear over America's national psyche to advance his own goals, or preserve his own power.

Instead of succumbing to feelings of anger and vitriol or, worse, helplessness, we need to step out of our own safe echo chambers. As the economist Paul Romer has said , "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste," and we should embrace this moment of crisis as an opportunity for a generational shift in America. The election results awoke a sleeping lion, revealing much about the ways we do -- and do not -- really see each other. We are indeed in a moment of instability and profound change, and what's happening in Detroit, Tulsa, and other cities shows me how younger Americans are making the most of it.

Now is the time for America's millennials, gen X, and gen Y to continue to take the lead. Sometimes, taking the lead can be as simple as taking control of your own destiny. On death's doorstep after years of addiction, for example, my cousin checked himself into a nonprofit, Christian rehabilitation program and became sober. Today, he regularly shares his personal story and testimonial, including at the local high school.

That's leadership at the most local level. He remade his own life and tries to help others do the same. His leadership is akin to what young people in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, and elsewhere are doing to make their own communities better. America has had to rediscover its soul before. The only difference today is that for young Americans, now it's our damn turn to take the wheel and do the work.

We are the answer, rising up through countless small acts of reinvention, intervention and recreation. No matter how bleak might have felt, I'm not betting on cynicism. I'm betting on a new generation rising to reinvent their communities — people like Zac Carman, the founders of Shinola, and my cousin Nick. You will want to allow some time to check it out either before or after your tour. Our tour started with a brief introduction outside then we entered the part of 97 Orchard St that was a German Beer Saloon from to They did a great job recreating what was it would have been like back then.

Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside. We took a few minutes to look around and then took our seats so that Sarah could tell us more. A German couple the Schneiders ran the bar together and throughout our tour, Sarah shared information about them so that you really felt like you knew them and the struggles they faced.

We also got to see artifacts like their marriage announcement. Unfortunately, they have not been able to trace the family lines to current day like they have with many other families that lived in the building.

Now, although men typically outnumber the women at bars, everyone is welcome. I also really enjoyed the role-playing activity that we did. We were each given cards with information about a real person that would have frequented the saloon. We had time to go around and meet the other people and learn about them too. I was really impressed by how much information they knew about these people that lived over years ago.

After the meeting room, and a quick peek into their small private family space, we moved to an area that had not been restored. Here we learned about how some of the restoration was done.

July 4th: Re-Discovering America Through Immigrant Eyes

We could see the layers of paint and plaster on the wall. Sarah also showed us some artifacts that had been discovered during the restoration. I was fascinated that they found a broken beer mug that was probably used at the German Beer Saloon. You can see the layers of wallpapers that were used over the years photo courtesy of the Tenement Museum.

Tenement Museum NYC: Rediscovering the American Dream

The German Beer Saloon was not the only business that occupied the space over the years. After it closed in , a kosher butcher opened, then an auction house, and it later became an underwear shop. The last part of the tour we learned more about those businesses in a high tech interactive exhibit. As our tour wrapped up, Sarah shared with us a short film about two Yemeni brothers who opened a bodega in the neighborhood about thirty years ago. They worked hard keeping the store open 24 hours a day without ever closing.

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Even, with no power during Hurricane Sandy, they stayed open so that those in the neighborhood had something to eat. These brothers care about New Yorkers and love America.

The IRS was not part of the equation. Leigh — Sounds good. We are indeed in a moment of instability and profound change, and what's happening in Detroit, Tulsa, and other cities shows me how younger Americans are making the most of it. Death, destruction, terror, and the world being altered within a single hour in a way that has forever changed all of our lives ever since. You can see the layers of wallpapers that were used over the years photo courtesy of the Tenement Museum. As the economist Paul Romer has said , "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste," and we should embrace this moment of crisis as an opportunity for a generational shift in America. I mean, who paid for it?

It was really powerful to see that while the names and faces in the area have changed, its fundamental character has not. During our tour of the Tenement Museum in Manhattan, we found out about and connected with, generations of people who had lived in the neighborhood and worked hard to make their way in the world. These two brothers are the latest in a history of people stretching back over almost a hundred and fifty years that have moved to New York, set up their own businesses and tried to find the American Dream. I felt a real sense of sadness that in the current political climate, the future of this way of life, and an integral part of what makes America the country it is, and gives New York its character, is now under threat.

To me being the land of opportunity and a place where you can practice whatever religion you choose are principles our nation was founded on. These principles are what make America great. I cannot imagine what our country would be without immigrants. I left the Tenement Museum feeling that the ongoing story of the immigrant community on the Lower East Side is, in some ways, the story of America.

If this comes to an end now, I worry that our country and the city I love will have lost something very precious along the way. No financial compensation was received, but the New York City Tenement Museum did provide complimentary tour tickets. As always, opinions expressed here are my own. We are happy to co-host the Weekly Postcard Linkup. GMT Friday, February 26th. The instructions are below, but if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

Access Check

Leigh — Sounds good. It looks really interesting. What an interesting museum. Kris — Thanks yes it was different from any other museum I have visited and I really enjoyed it. Thank you for this blog.

Tenement Museum NYC: Rediscovering the American Dream - Two Traveling Texans

My parents are both immigrants, so this hits home! I love New York for its diversity and love to see the rich history of our immigrant culture remembered and celebrated. Wow what a neat experience. I loved it because you feel like you are traveling back in time. Thanks for sharing and making me wantt to takea visit.

Kelly — Glad to hear you have good memories of your visit. And if in that city there is a museum like that, it sounds even more attractive. Lucile — I really hope you get the chance to visit NYC. And I agree with you understanding history is so important. I love the German Beer Salon, so much rich history. Transit-oriented development The Wall Street Journal. New urban demographics point to urban housing 1 of 2: What will the housing market be like years from now?

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