February 21, 2008
MARKSONS MADE THEIR MARK
By John Condakes
BOSTON—The 1600s in England were full of troubles for people in the lower classes. Among them were Elizabeth Markson’s ancestors, who were no strangers to those troubles and felt that a better life awaited them across the Atlantic. Whether they had financial difficulty or were just looking for adventure, Markson will probably never know “unless they left a diary,” she said as she turned in her swivel office chair. Four hundred years later in Boston, Markson’s office features the common characteristics of a college professor. White walls and a couple of book cases loaded with sociology books fill the room while an ancient Dell desktop that could definitely be replaced slowly churns and grinds its hard drive.
Markson’s family failed early in Europe, so her relatives sought success and a new life in America. The first to do so was Thomas Savage, a cabin boy who served for Sir Christopher Newport, captain on the ship Goodspeed. At the young age of 15, Savage landed in Jamestown, Virginia, and made a living for himself as a planter.
“One of my cousins told me that Thomas Savage was the illegitimate son of Sir Christopher Newport,” added Markson, but she noted that there was no documented proof.
Savage became a successful planter who owned many acres and had many children, Markson said. He was also one of the first English-speakers to master the language of the local Native Americans near his home in Virginia. Markson added that she also had numerous ancestors immigrate to the New World with land grants from the king of England.
Today there is no need for land grants when people immigrate to America. When asked about immigration policy, Markson said she is a supporter of newcomers, noting that she recently organized a conference on immigration that featured vignettes by Portuguese women who don’t speak English and how they earn money cleaning houses.
“I was impressed,” she said. “If I went to Portugal not being able to speak Portuguese, I would probably be cleaning someone’s house [too].”
Markson noted that ever since the first immigrants stepped off the boat in the early 1600s, there has been a trend of the natives not being very happy to see them. “Every immigrant group has been looked upon with suspicion,” she said.
She said she personally believes that amnesty should be granted to anyone already within United States borders and that the government should offer Green Cards and citizenship tests to those who want them. Markson also pointed out that most immigrants have jobs that are undesirable but still help to maintain society. She stated that the notion of deporting 12 million people would be mind-boggling in terms of cost, not to mention the amount of police needed to enforce such a policy.
“We are a country of immigrants, and we have an ignoble history of disliking the other groups, [but] it’s all worked out fine,” she said.
“I know some people who are illegal immigrants in this country and they’re fine, devout citizens, but to sum it up, I get really peeved about [the] ‘Let’s send them all back’ [policy],” stated the professor.
History and personal experience with immigrants have taught Elizabeth Markson to believe in a policy that provides an equal opportunity to succeed in a country that was founded on immigration and continues to diversify its population today.
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