This Land Is Our Land: Immigrants and Power in MiamiFor those opposed to immigration, Miami is a nightmare. Miami is the de facto capital of Latin America; it is a city where immigrants dominate, Spanish is ubiquitous, and Denny's is an ethnic restaurant. Are Miami's immigrants representative of a trend that is undermining American culture and identity? Drawing from in-depth fieldwork in the city and looking closely at recent events such as the Elián González case, This Land Is Our Land examines interactions between immigrants and established Americans in Miami to address fundamental questions of American identity and multiculturalism. Rather than focusing on questions of assimilation, as many other studies have, this book concentrates on interethnic relations to provide an entirely new perspective on the changes wrought by immigration in the United States. A balanced analysis of Miami's evolution over the last forty years, This Land Is Our Land is also a powerful demonstration that immigration in America is not simply an "us versus them" phenomenon. |
Contents
| 5 | |
Cuban Power Anglo Conversion and Frustrated African Americans | 38 |
Ethnic Segregation and Bureaucratizing Interaction | 93 |
African Americans and Haitians in High School | 118 |
Interaction Power and Accommodation in InterEthnic Relations | 142 |
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Common terms and phrases
acculturation African American students Alex Penelas Amer Ameri American culture American white apparel plant arena becoming American black businesses black immigrants black neighborhoods black-owned business leaders CANF capital of Latin Caribbean carpenters Castro Chamber of Commerce Chicago City of Miami Civil Rights conflict context Creole Cuba Cuban American Dade dominate economic election elite English established resident white ethnic GMCC Greater Miami Chamber Haiti Haitian Creole Haitian immigrants high school Hispanic Hurricane Andrew immi inner-city interaction interviews Jeb Bush language largest Latin America Latino Liberty City Little Havana mainstream majority Miami Cubans Miami Haitian Miami Herald Miami-Dade County Miami's black migrants minority National native newcomers and established organization Overtown Park and Burgess participant observation Penelas percent political population Portes prejudice primarily problem race racial racism riot South Florida Spanish speak Stepick tion union United vote white American white American business workplace York
Popular passages
Page 14 - He is an American, who leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world.
Page 12 - Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.
Page 15 - The real American has not yet arrived. . . . He will be the fusion of all races, perhaps the coming superman.
Page 14 - The genius of America lies in its capacity to forge a single nation from peoples of remarkably diverse racial, religious, and ethnic origins. It has done so because democratic principles provide both the philosophical bond of union and practical experience in civic participation. The American Creed envisages a nation composed of individuals making their own choices and accountable to themselves, not a nation based on inviolable ethnic communities.
Page 13 - ... men in the National Guard, and, as Gov. Gunther said, equipped them, and they are now " over there " and ready at the firing line. When the draft was called, Mr. Secretary, we had furnished so many men from our State that we had seven counties that were not subject to the first draft c'all at all. We are 100 per cent American in the State of Wyoming, and we are going to remain 100 per cent American.