Bringing nuance, complexity, and clarity to a subject often seen in black and white, Writing Immigration presents a unique interplay of leading scholars and journalists working on the contentious topic of immigration. In a series of powerful essays, the contributors reflect on how they struggle to write about one of the defining issues of our time—one that is at once local and global, familiar and uncanny, concrete and abstract. Highlighting and framing central questions surrounding immigration, their essays explore topics including illegal immigration, state and federal mechanisms for immigration regulation, enduring myths and fallacies regarding immigration, immigration and the economy, immigration and education, the adaptations of the second generation, and more. Together, these writings give a clear sense of the ways in which scholars and journalists enter, shape, and sometimes transform this essential yet unfinished national conversation.
Marcelo M. Suárez-Orozco, The Ross University Professor at New York University, is the author and editor of many books including Latinos: Remaking America (UC Press), co-edited by Mariela Páez. Vivian Louie is Associate Professor of Education at Harvard University and the author of Compelled to Excel: Immigration, Education, and Opportunity Among Chinese Americans. Roberto Suro is Professor of Journalism and Public Policy at the University of Southern California and the author of Strangers Among Us: Latino Lives in a Changing America, among other books.
"No one in the news media should write or talk about immigration without reading Writing Immigration.” --Lawrence O'Donnell, Host of MSNBC The Last word with Lawrence O'Donnell
“I cannot help but applaud the idea for this book, especially given the caliber of the editors. The communication between social scientists and journalists is often not smooth, and there is a strong rationale for attempting to bridge this divide on the issues surrounding immigration, which appear at times to divide the American public into opposing camps.” --Richard Alba, author of Blurring the Color Line: The New Chance for a More Integrated America
"Bringing together academics and journalists--inviting them to talk with, not at, one another--is an enterprise as important as it is rare. When the participants in the conversation are as lively, provocative and insightful as the contributors to Writing Immigration, the result is a real treat. For anyone who wants to understand how immigration is molding the nation's future, this book is an indispensable read.” --David Kirp is a professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and former associate editor of the Sacramento Bee.
"A compelling book on an extremely timely topic, from writers with a great capacity to spin a story." –Professor Patricia Gándara, Co-Director of The Civil Rights Project at UCLA
"Academics and journalists share the weighty responsibility of helping the public see where our ship is headed. When it comes to immigration, we need a cure for myopia and this important, timely book is it: a map for thinking about immigration in the round. It will elevate the public conversation." --Danielle Allen, UPS Foundation Professor of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study
“Immigration in the United States is our past, our present, and very likely our future. The brilliance of this volume is that it looks both at it subject—immigration—through the very different lenses of journalism and academia, juxtaposing their styles and approaches to explore one of the central policy dilemmas of our day, the integration of immigrants –not all of them legal—and their children into American society and economy, while critiquing the role of media and scholarly observers who shape our understanding of immigration as well.” --Michael Jones-Correa, Professor of Government, Cornell University
296 pp.6 x 9Illus: 2 line illustrations
9780520267176$95.00|£80.00Hardcover
Sep 2011