Architecture of Race
Part 1: The Central Argument
Mae Ngai argues that the Immigration Act of 1924 fundamentally reshaped American racial categories by legally codifying a racial hierarchy under the guise of “national origins.” The act distinguished Europeans from non-Europeans while embedding racial exclusions, particularly targeting Asians through the concept of “ineligibility to citizenship.” The quota system favored Northern and Western Europeans while restricting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, Mexicans, while not explicitly restricted under the law, were racialized through deportation policies and their classification as an “illegal” population. Ngai contends that this legislation was not just about controlling immigration but was a significant factor in constructing racial identities and national belonging in the United States .
Section: “The Invention of National Origins”
Ngai details how the national origins quota system created artificial racial distinctions, particularly between different groups of Europeans. Here are three pieces of evidence she uses to support this argument: 1. Manipulation of Census Data (p. 71-77) The 1924 Act relied on a flawed historical reconstruction of the U.S. population’s ancestry, using census data that did not actually record national origins before 1890. Since earlier censuses did not distinguish between different European nationalities, quota calculations were based on broad assumptions that disproportionately favored Northern and Western Europeans over Southern and Eastern Europeans. 2. Reclassification of European Identities (p. 73-75) Ngai highlights how racial classifications were redefined to align with the quota system. For example, earlier, Eastern and Southern Europeans were sometimes considered “undesirable races,” but they were legally categorized as white. The quota system ultimately differentiated between “desirable” and “undesirable” whites, reinforcing a racial hierarchy within European immigrants. 3. Use of Nationality as a Proxy for Race (p. 76-77) The act’s architects framed nationality as a neutral category, but Ngai argues that it was a euphemism for race. The U.S. classified immigrants based on their country of origin rather than individual qualifications, reinforcing a system where race and nationality were intertwined. This distinction allowed the U.S. to restrict “non-assimilable” groups while maintaining a facade of fairness.