The United States of inclusivity

[Rev. Rye]

So I am watching The Alienist these days—a series showing pursuit of a series killer in 1896 New York City who exclusively kills boy-prostitutes dressed as girls.

Few episodes in and there is murder of a boy prostitute Ali who was dressing as Fatima, who was from Syria.

I am not an expert on US immigration, but I imagine that finding a Syrian in 1896 NYC are pretty marginal compared to finding an Italian or Irish immigrant. I am not saying it cannot happen but I think this contrivance has more to do with recent wave of Hollywood inclusivity than reality.

You’d be surprised. The first big wave of Syrian emigration to America started in 1889, New York was (and still is) the center of Syrian-American life. So, it actually makes sense that someone might find a Syrian in 1896 New York. And looking at the Alienist wiki for more information on Ali/Fatima, it turns out he’s not just some recent addition to the Alienist canon added for diversity-related reasons; he’s in the original book, and that was published in 1994! And back then, the only prominent American media that focused on Arabs was Disney’s Aladdin!