For 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.
Alex Stepick is Director of the Immigration and Ethnicity Institute and Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Florida International University. Among his books is the award-winning City on the Edge: The Transformation of Miami (California, 1994, with Alejandro Portes). Max Castro is Senior Research Associate at Dante B. Fascell North-South Center, University of Miami. Guillermo Grenier is Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Florida International University. Marvin Dunn is Professor and Chair, Psychology Department, Florida International University.
"This well-written and compelling story of immigrant resident relations in Miami will be read and enjoyed by lay people and scholars, and will no doubt produce stimulating discussions in classrooms throughout urban America."—Jacqueline Hagan, author of Deciding to Be Legal: A Maya Community in Houston
"Stepick and his colleagues provide a richly-textured and highly-nuanced account of how immigrants are remaking Miami—a city that, in one generation, has been transformed by the influx of Latin American and Caribbean newcomers. Based on long-term direct observation, This Land Is Our Land puts relations between immigrants and established residents on center stage—showing how both have changed as they encounter each other in schools, workplaces, and business and commerce. This well-written book is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand how immigration is changing America."—Nancy Foner, author of From Ellis Island to JFK: New York’s Two Great Waves of Immigration
"A path-setting study that explores power, context, and diversity in the culturally heterogeneous, economically vibrant, and politically dynamic city of Miami. Unpacking the complexities of race, ethnicity, and class, this lucidly written work takes the reader on rugged journeys as immigrants of different national origins strive to become American at their own pace and on their own terms. It provides fresh insight into the long-standing American ambivalence toward immigration, making a fine contribution to the burgeoning literature on immigration and inter-racial dynamics. "—Min Zhou, co-author of Growing Up American: How Vietnamese Children Adapt to Life in the United States
"A valuable account of ethnic relations in Miami by social scientists who live and work there. Informative and useful material for urban sociologists and specialists on immigration."—Alejandro Portes, coauthor of Immigrant America and Professor of Sociology and Director, Center for Migration and Development, Princeton University
208 pp.6 x 9
9780520233980$34.95|£30.00Paper
May 2003