Fifteen Years on the Bottom Rung

“Fifteen Years on the Bottom Rung” juxtaposes the lives of Greek immigrant John Zannikos and Mexican immigrant Juan Manuel Parelta to illustrate how both men shared fundamentally similar beginnings upon arrival to the United States but live very different socioeconomic >> lives >> > in New Year City. Through Parelta, the author reveals how Mexican >> > immigrants face a significant deal of obstacles in obtaining social >> > mobility in the United States based on discrimination, immigration >> > status, and lack of opportunities for advancement. The author >> describes >> > how Mexican immigrants are among the poorest and least educated in the >> > United States contributing to stagnation within social and economic >> > classes. The article tells the story of Zannikos who immigrated to the >> > United States from Greece about 25 years ago with very little like >> > Parelta. However, despite many setbacks, Zannikos is now the owner of >> a >> > high end restaurant located in upper Manhattan while Parelta has been >> > working in the restaurant industry for 15 years as a busboy and cook. >> > When Zannikos arrived to the United States, he too began working in >> > menial jobs in restaurants and as a painter but was able to move up by >> > saving his earnings. Parelta’s immigration status has prevented him >> from >> > any opportunity for advancement as he is illegal. The author tells how >> > Zannikos lives a comfortable life in the suburbs with a salary of >> $130,00 >> > while Parelta barely makes $30,000 a year with little English skills >> and >> > no healthcare. Both men came to the United States with the purpose to >> > achieve the American Dream. Zannikos’ story is a clear example of >> > achieving a comfortable place among the middle class in the United >> > States. Parelta’ story serves to highlight how he did achieve the >> > American Dream in the eyes of his family back in Mexico but struggles >> on >> > a daily basis to be a provider for his family. Furthermore, his story >> > serves as an example to highlight the struggles faced by Mexican >> illegal >> > immigrants across the United States and how their illegal immigration >> > status inhibits them from fully obtaining the American Dream >> >