The Third Edition of Diversity in America offers both a sociohistorical perspective and a sociological analysis to provide insights into U.S. diversity. The author squarely addresses the topics which generate more passionate, invective, and raucous debate than all others in American society today: Is multiculturalism a threat to us? Should immigration be more closely controlled? Are we no longer sufficiently “American” and why? The book answers these questions by using history and sociology to shed light on socially constructed myths about our past, misunderstandings from our present, and anxieties about our future.

New to the Third Edition

Offers a new section in each chapter, “The Larger Context,” which places multiculturalism in a comparative perspective to other developed countries; Examines what constitutes a racial or ethnic group; Includes new chapter-opening photographs that visually illustrate the context of that chapter; Presents expanded commentary in many chapters about the influence of Asian culture in the earlier part of U.S. history and provides expanded discussion about Arabs, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans; Discusses the social constructionist approach as a further understanding about the perception of groups such as Native Americans and racial minorities; Explores how transnationalism affects multiculturalism; Expands the discussion on the PATRIOT Act and its impact on immigrants; Offers maps showing the territorial size of the United States during the eras discussed in Chapters 2 through 6

Intended Audience

This is an ideal supplement for courses in Race and Ethnic Relations, Immigration History, American Studies, or other courses on diversity.