Dogs and Greeks are not allowed to enter.

Παρακολουθώντας τις βίαιες ακρότητες που συμβαίνουν σε Κύπρο και Ελλάδα εναντίων μεταναστών και περιδιαβαίνοντας στο διαδίκτυο, έπεσα πάνω σε μια σελίδα με ιστορικά στοιχεία Ελλήνων μεταναστών στην Αμερική τον περασμένο αιώνα. Ανάμεσα στα άλλα αυτό που κέντρισε την προσοχή μου είναι η πινακίδα που υπήρχε σε εστιατόριο που απαγόρευε την είσοδο σε σκύλους και Έλληνες.
Αντιγράφω:

“Life of Early Immigrants in the United States

Profiles

Most immigrants were young men from the ages of 18 to 35. They were unskilled workers, farmers, a few painters and construction masons. They did not speak English. They certainly had no money. Their dream was to earn money in a few years and return to the Fatherland. Nearly all of them remained in the United States. They worked hard; they washed dishes; they sold things in the streets; they labored setting railroad tracks; they worked in coalmines of Utah and Pennsylvania. Several died from tuberculosis because of the severe dampness and harsh working conditions in the mines. Many grieved until they died that they did not have the opportunity to bury their parents who had died in Kythera.

Difficulties

American society was rather hostile to the poor immigrants during the early decades of the 20th Century. It severely mistreated them and ethnic discrimination was widespread. For example, a sign in a shop read “Dogs and Greeks are not allowed to enter.”
American immigration policy aimed at Americanizing and assimilating the immigrants. Our compatriots shortened or changed their surnames so they would be taken as Anglo Saxons. For example, Kostas became Gus Theodore became Ted; Stavros became Steve; Katerina became Carrie. They were afraid to speak Greek outside their homes. “