Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2021/Fall/Section018/A.G. Alexander

Summary

The story of A.G. Alexander is one of ambition and determination. He decided to come to America to make better wages. As Alexander gained more work experience, he eventually became a partner and founded his cafe. He obtained ownership of the cafe by working his way up a capitalist American society. Growing up working-class, Alexander discusses how from an early age, the values of hard work were instilled in him. His background of growing up as a working-class immigrant acclimated him to the workforce. Alexander refers to his Greek culture when discussing his values. The experience of A.G. Alexander is a reflection of his time. Many European immigrants came to the United States in search of a more prosperous lifestyle. Also, the global community was affected by the aftereffects of World War I. These socio-political factors created an environment of societal pressure; many people were forced to work to extreme lengths to provide for themselves. Nonetheless, A.G. fought against the odds and amounted to success.

Early Life

A.G. Alexander grew up in Turkey, on a small farm. Land inheritance was divided among relatives of the family, so there was little land to be had among families. Alexander’s father inherited some land from his father, however, he did not inherit as much as his brother. A. In Turkey, it was required to pay tuition for a base-level education, and Alexander’s father did not have the means to do so. However, he fought against the odds and received his education. Eventually, the Alexanders faced a period of financial struggle. His family farm was not making enough profit and his mother had fallen ill. Therefore, A.G. Alexander picked up work at a local bakery. Through his encounters and experiences, Alexander was exposed to the workforce at a young age. Eventually, A.G. went back to working on his father’s farm, along with all of his sisters. As a young adult, AG. Alexander had the aspiration to move to the United States. He had heard of the high wages that many immigrants were making in Pennsylvania and wanted to procure some wealth for himself. However, his father did not want him to go. A.G. was suddenly stuck because he could neither ask for the money nor get a job to pay for the trip for himself. To elaborate, he could not do this because his father would simply collect his wages. Faced with no other decision, A.G. Alexander went on strike. Eventually, his father gave him a ticket and he was able to move to the United States.

Adult and Professional Life in the United States

When A.G. Alexander arrived in the United States, he started work in Pennsylvania. After he made back the money his father spent on the ticket, he started working to support himself. Alexander worked in a mill and shared housing with other Greek Immigrants. There, they all worked to support their share of the rent, and for a long time, they were not economically prosperous. So, A.G. Alexander moved to Pittsburgh to work at a railroad company; this was shortly before transferring to another company to run a construction camp. The war (World War I) put a lot of tension on the American industry, so a lot of people lost their jobs - including Alexander. AG picked up work in a cafe; that is where he learned the skills necessary in managing a cafe. A.G. traveled to several states, working in different cafes, until he bought his own cafe. Six months later, a Greek man came into Alexander’s cafe wanting to become business partners. As they proceeded to work together, this partner cheated him and stole some of the cafe’s profits. Since that incident, A.G. Alexander has stated that he refused to have any business partners. Alexander started up a business in Martinsville, which is where he met his wife. A year later, they got married and moved to Asheville, North Carolina to pursue better business. A.G. ends up starting a family while managing a business.

Social Issues

Hellenism in the United States

A.G. Alexander is a part of the Greek- American community. The majority of Alexander’s adult life was spent in the United States. His status as a Greek-Turkish Immigrant gave him a unique experience in the United States. It is noted that Greek immigrants had an easier time assimilating to American culture; this is because many Greek immigrants struck a balance between preserving their Greek culture and adopting American culture. This can be seen through the work culture. Work culture for Greek immigrants in America was different from other Americans. They believed in working to support themselves. If one did not work to earn their stay, they would lose support. However, many Greek immigrants were very supportive of each other. They cultivated a sense of community in a foreign country. This coincides with A.G. Alexander’s connection to his Greek heritage and how he onto it throughout his time in the United States.

Immigration in the United States

At the time of World War I, there was a decrease in immigration. Prior years had higher rates of immigration; which was why the US imposed restrictions and examinations to make the immigration process more difficult. In addition, quota systems mitigated how many people from one country came to the US. Then once immigrants successfully came to the United States, they were treated as second-class citizens. Cultural and language barriers made assimilation difficult. It was common for immigrants to try to assimilate into American culture. Coming in at this time was a challenge for A.G. Alexander. In the beginning, he worked in mills and railroads, alongside other immigrants. Making money was difficult, however, Alexander succeeded.

“First- and second-generation Americans, some of whom had immigrated only decades earlier, targeted newcomers, whom they perceived as different from themselves by virtue of language, skin color, custom, religion, political inclination, and behavior and because they carried with them the supposed physical dangers of disease and disorder.” - Erkkila, Catherine Boland. “American Railways and the Cultural Landscape of Immigration.”

Greek Migrants in Turkey

Though A.G. Alexander is from Turkey, he is from Greek lineage. This was very common in Europe for there to be migration of different ethnic groups. To be more specific, there were a lot of Greek migrants that came to Turkey. Especially during the 1920s, there was an exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece. Greek Migrants in Turkey still held onto their culture, establishing a foothold in a different culture.

World War I

World War I changed the dynamic of the world. Many people had their families torn apart or shattered during the war. Others fled their home country, seeking asylum from the war. A.G. Alexander lost contact with his father during the war, he assumed that his father died or went missing. This is the case for many people. In terms of immigration, the United States enacted quotas, which led to the decrease of immigration into the United States. In other words, the immigrant community was put at a disadvantage during the war.

“The Age of Mass Migration ended abruptly with the onset of World War I. The War not only limited mobility across the Atlantic, but also increased employment opportunities in the U.S.; both of these factors lowered return migrant flows. Although the U.S. remained neutral until 1917, the early years of war were marked by increased production of military goods to satisfy European demand.” - Greenwood, Michael J, and Zachary Ward. “Immigration Quotas, World War I, and Emigrant Flows from the United States in the Early 20th Century.”

References

• Baldwin-Edwards, Martin. “Migration between Greece and Turkey: from the ‘Exchange of Populations’ to Non-Recognition of Borders.” South East Europe Review, 2006, 1–7.
• Erkkila, Catherine Boland. “American Railways and the Cultural Landscape of Immigration.” Buildings & Landscapes: Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum 22, no. 1 (2015): 36–62. https://doi.org/University of Minnesota Press.
• Greenwood, Michael J, and Zachary Ward. “Immigration Quotas, World War I, and Emigrant Flows from the United States in the Early 20th Century.” Explorations in Economic History 55 (2015): 76–76. https://doi.org/Department of Economics, University of Colorado.
• History.com Editors. “U.S. Immigration before 1965.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, October 29, 2009. https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/u-s-immigration-before-1965#section_2.
• Περτσάς, Βαγιανός. “Cultural Relations and Greek Community.” Cultural Relations and Greek Community: Greek Diaspora in the USA. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/greece/greece-and-the-usa/cultural-relations-and-greek-community.html?page=2.
• Pallis, A.A. “Racial Migrations in the Balkans during the Years 1912-1924.” The Geographical Journal, October 1925, 315–13.