Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Immigration and Multiculturalism: Essential Primary Sources. Edited by K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2006. 1 vol. 483 p. $115.00. ISBN 10: 1-4144-0329-1; 13: 978-14144-0329-8.

With the present-day focus on illegal aliens and fences to halt persons from crossing our borders, students will learn that these problems are not new to this country—which was originally settled by immigrants. The sources found here cover two centuries, and while focused on the United States, gives students a global picture. Immigration issues are often based in multiculturalism within countries when citizens of one country do not wish to have representatives of new cultures or societies enter their borders. Conflict may arise and tensions exist within a country between religions in place for centuries. An 11- page chronology begins the volume and a 14-page list of sources consulted is given as an appendix. While these entries do not offer a comprehensive overview, they will generate a student's interest in further research and give them an opportunity to test the information as other historians provide their points of view. It may also provide them an opportunity to "walk a mile in another's shoes" as they read the essays and articles written by persons who are "undocumented immigrants" or "officially recognized refugees" or some other designation. This information will provide teachers with assignments to make a critical analysis of situations looking at the possibility for a different outcome if a different document was created. It offers the opportunity to test the veracity of that information with what has been reported later. Your social studies teachers and debate coaches will like this reference very much.