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America for Americans : a history of xenophobia in the United States

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Book

First edition.

"Many of us like to think of the United States as a nation of immigrants. We pride ourselves on our history of welcoming foreigners and believe this sets our nation apart from every other. But the phrase 'a nation of immigrants' only dates from the mid-twentieth century, and has served to paper over a much darker history of hatred of -- and violence against -- foreigners arriving on our shores. As the acclaimed historian Erika Lee shows in America for Americans, the recent spasm of xenophobic policy and treatment of immigrants -- from the abuses of ICE to the Muslim ban to the proposed border wall -- is only the latest manifestation of another, less known but even more influential American creed. As Lee argues, an intense fear of strangers based on theirrace, religion, ethnicity, or national origin has always been at the heart of the American project. From Benjamin Franklin calling German immigrants 'swarthy' aliens to the anti-Chinese exclusion movement in 1876 San Francisco to modern paranoia over Mexican immigration and the 'browning of America,' xenophobia has been an ideological force working hand-in-hand with American nationalism, capitalism, and racism. Offering a new framework and theory of xenophobia to explain what it is, what it does, and howit works, Lee shows that more often than not in our nation's history, xenophobia has been the rule -- not the exception. At the same time, she reveals why we cannot understand institutionalized racism, sexism, classism without first examining the role ofxenophobia in creating these related problems. Forcing us to reckon with the less palatable side of American history and beliefs, America for Americans is a necessary corrective and ultimately a spur to action for any concerned citizen"--

Available copies

  • 14 of 14 copies available at Westchester Library System.

Current holds

0 current holds with 14 total copies.
Location Call Number /
Shelving Location
Barcode Status /
Due Date
Briarcliff Manor Public Library 305.8009 LEE (Text)
Nonfiction
31036150920277
Available
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Bronxville Public Library 305.8 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31004151694630
Available
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Chappaqua Library 305.8 LEE (Text)
Nonfiction
31005600046926
Available
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Greenburgh Public Library 305.8 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31009154646677
Available
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Larchmont Public Library 305.8009 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31014152843847
Available
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Mount Kisco Public Library 305.813 LEE (Text)
Nonfiction
31017151858328
Available
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Mount Vernon Public Library 305.8 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31018155504751
Available
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New Rochelle Public Library 305.8 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31019156579222
Available
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North Castle Public Library 305.8 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31001151949063
Available
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Ossining Public Library 305.8 L (Text)
Nonfiction
31021153303804
Available
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