American educators have hailed the public high school as the ultimate guarantor of equal opportunity in a modern educational system. Avenues to Adulthood assesses how the high school played this role. Professor Ueda's book discusses the reasons for the modernisation of the high school at the turn of the twentieth century, the kinds of opportunities the high school offered and the way in which it became a focus of civic life that reshaped the American sense of community and generation. To the extent that a small share of poor immigrant children gained access to the high school and received its advantages, that institution counteracted the disadvantages of inherited social status. Academics, interscholastic sports and journalism turned the high school into a focal point of civic pride. Ultimately by supplying educational advantages that affected adult career patterns, the high school was a powerful force in reshuffling the social elites of the early twentieth-century city.

Listen to a short interview with Mary Waters Host: Chris Gondek ] Producer: Heron & Crane

Salsa has replaced ketchup as the most popular condiment. A mosque has been erected around the corner. The local hospital is staffed by Indian doctors and Philippine nurses, and the local grocery store is owned by a Korean family. A single elementary school may include students who speak dozens of different languages at home. This is a snapshot of America at the turn of the twenty-first century.

The United States has always been a nation of immigrants, shaped by successive waves of new arrivals. The most recent transformation began when immigration laws and policies changed significantly in 1965, admitting migrants from around the globe in new numbers and with widely varying backgrounds and aspirations.

This comprehensive guide, edited and written by an interdisciplinary group of prominent scholars, provides an authoritative account of the most recent surge of immigrants. Twenty thematic essays address such topics as immigration law and policy, refugees, unauthorized migrants, racial and ethnic identity, assimilation, nationalization, economy, politics, religion, education, and family relations. These are followed by comprehensive articles on immigration from the thirty most significant nations or regions of origin. Based on the latest U.S. Census data and the most recent scholarly research, "The New Americans" is an essential reference for students, scholars, and anyone curious about the changing face of America.

A unique panoramic survey of ethnic groups throughout the United States that explores the diverse communities in every region, state, and big city. Race, ethnicity, and immigrants' lives and identity: these are all key topics that Americans need to study in order to fully understand U.S. culture, society, politics, economics, and history. Learning about "place" through our own historical and contemporary neighborhoods is an ideal way to better grasp the important role of race and ethnicity in the United States. This reference work comprehensively covers both historical and contemporary ethnic and immigrant neighborhoods through A-Z entries that explore the places and people in every major U.S. region and neighborhood. America's Changing Neighborhoods: An Exploration of Diversity uniquely combines the history of ethnic groups with the history of communities, offering an interdisciplinary examination of the nation's makeup. It gives readers perspective and insight into ethnicity and race based on the geography of enclaves across the nation, in regions and in specific cities or localized areas within a city. Among the entries are nearly 200 "neighborhood biographies" that provide histories of local communities and their ethnic groups. Images, sidebars, cross-references at the end of each entry, and cross-indexing of entries serve readers conducting preliminary as well as in-depth research. The book's state-by-state entries also offer population data, and an appendix of ancestry statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau details ethnic and racial diversity. Provides educators and researchers with a useful guide to the diverse ethnic and racial minorities of the United States that describes their geographic location and their local community life Serves journalists and scholars needing quick, convenient access to accurate information for research on places like San Francisco's Chinatown or Little Italy in Manhattan Presents statistics based on the U. S. Census of ethnic and racial diversity in each state

The monumental Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups is the most authoritative single source available on the history, culture, and distinctive characteristics of ethnic groups in the United States. The Dimensions of Ethnicity series is designed to make this landmark scholarship available to everyone in a series of handy paperbound student editions. Selections in this series will include outstanding articles that illuminate the social dynamics of a pluralistic nation or masterfully summarize the experience of key groups. Written by the best-qualified scholars in each field, Dimensions of Ethnicity titles will reflect the complex interplay between assimilation and pluralism that is a central theme of the American experience. In Prejudice, the history and psychology of discriminatory policies is contrasted with efforts to overcome discrimination.