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Natives and Strangers: A Multicultural History of Americans
The United States is the most culturally diverse nation on earth, a magnet for people from all over the globe. This diversity has always been one of the great engines of our economic growth. It is a source of great pride and much celebration (even on such unlikely occasions as St. Patrick's
Day in Savannah, Georgia, where schools close, the local dairy offers mint-flavored milk, and a parade ensues second only to that of New York City). And of course diversity is the cause of much tension and bad feelings, as seen in America's recurrent attacks on minority groups. Now, in Natives and
Strangers , Leonard Dinnerstein, Roger L. Nichols, and David M. Reimers present a wide-ranging historical narrative that illuminates the shifting tides of America's ethnic past and present, from the English colonists of Jamestown to the Asians and Mexicans of the West.
A sweeping, ambitious chronicle of our unique cultural mosaic, spanning over nearly four hundred years, Natives and Strangers surveys America's legacy of assimilation and difference, of poverty and economic advancement, of ethnic conflict and intercultural mingling, expertly weaving together
these strands into an engaging and informative whole. The authors consider the changing fortunes of American Indians, slaves, and immigrants, describing how newcomers interacted and often clashed with native-born people, with government and law enforcement, and with one another in crowded tenements
or on expansive farmlands. They paint a compelling portrait of the extraordinary range of immigrant experience in working conditions and family life, communities of religion and language, political aspirations and social repression. The authors also explore the spectrum of ethnic coalitions
that have fought for equal access to scarce resources and the rise of individuals of distinct ethnic lineage to local, state, and national offices. And they discuss the periodic surges of nativism directed at those cultural groups considered at odds with mainstream society, from vitriolic attacks on
the "hordes of wild Irishmen" in the early days of the American republic to the torrents of abuse heaped upon Asian immigrants until long after World War II. Finally, the book examines some of the anomalies of immigrant life in why, for instance, have the Germans and Scandinavians built
strong communities in the Midwest, while Chinese populations have congregated in New York and San Francisco? And how did Japanese immigrants overcome decades of venomous xenophobia to become one of America's most successful, highly educated minority groups, while Puerto Ricans remain near the bottom
of the socioeconomic ladder?
Natives and Strangers offers telling insight into the lives and history of immigrants, American Indians, and African Americans, providing readers with the most up-to-date, informative account of this nation's rich multicultural fabric.
Day in Savannah, Georgia, where schools close, the local dairy offers mint-flavored milk, and a parade ensues second only to that of New York City). And of course diversity is the cause of much tension and bad feelings, as seen in America's recurrent attacks on minority groups. Now, in Natives and
Strangers , Leonard Dinnerstein, Roger L. Nichols, and David M. Reimers present a wide-ranging historical narrative that illuminates the shifting tides of America's ethnic past and present, from the English colonists of Jamestown to the Asians and Mexicans of the West.
A sweeping, ambitious chronicle of our unique cultural mosaic, spanning over nearly four hundred years, Natives and Strangers surveys America's legacy of assimilation and difference, of poverty and economic advancement, of ethnic conflict and intercultural mingling, expertly weaving together
these strands into an engaging and informative whole. The authors consider the changing fortunes of American Indians, slaves, and immigrants, describing how newcomers interacted and often clashed with native-born people, with government and law enforcement, and with one another in crowded tenements
or on expansive farmlands. They paint a compelling portrait of the extraordinary range of immigrant experience in working conditions and family life, communities of religion and language, political aspirations and social repression. The authors also explore the spectrum of ethnic coalitions
that have fought for equal access to scarce resources and the rise of individuals of distinct ethnic lineage to local, state, and national offices. And they discuss the periodic surges of nativism directed at those cultural groups considered at odds with mainstream society, from vitriolic attacks on
the "hordes of wild Irishmen" in the early days of the American republic to the torrents of abuse heaped upon Asian immigrants until long after World War II. Finally, the book examines some of the anomalies of immigrant life in why, for instance, have the Germans and Scandinavians built
strong communities in the Midwest, while Chinese populations have congregated in New York and San Francisco? And how did Japanese immigrants overcome decades of venomous xenophobia to become one of America's most successful, highly educated minority groups, while Puerto Ricans remain near the bottom
of the socioeconomic ladder?
Natives and Strangers offers telling insight into the lives and history of immigrants, American Indians, and African Americans, providing readers with the most up-to-date, informative account of this nation's rich multicultural fabric.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 4, 2012
It's definitely not an easy task to condense "minority group experiences," as Dinnerstein, Nichols, and Reimers put it, into a comprehensive, catch-all book that looks at immigration trends, social histories, and ethnic groups in the United States. But I still feel that the authors could have made this book seem less like a running laundry list of statistics and dry facts at times and more like a breathing, living narrative. That said, they do an okay job for trying to cover the entire body of American history while emphasizing the various minority groups and examining global trends and events. They emphasize the xenophobia, racism, and violence that erupted throughout American history against various minority groups that included white ethnic immigrants. One thing I liked was the recycled nativist rhetoric, which came up again and again, that challenged and questioned the unassimilability or American-ness of targeted groups.
I had a few gripes with this book, though. For one, some parts of it seemed carelessly edited. Vincent Chin was killed in 1992? Come on. That's an entire decade off, and a huge problem for students trying to situate Chin's murder in the 1980s when anti-Japanese sentiment was running high. There were other errors like this, and for a book that's well into its fifth edition, I think these kinds of noticeable/important errors and typos were inexcusable. Furthermore, the mention of Malcolm X was totally cursory! He was mentioned in passing with Elijah Muhammed in a note about the rise of the Nation of Islam in the 1960s. The least Dinnerstein et al. could have done was to make the connection between Malcolm's calls for black nationalism to the rise of the Black Panther Party! The point of history is to be making these connections, and I felt this book (at times) became more a list of facts and events than drawing useful connections. For a figure who has been so misrepresented already, I didn't feel like this book did him right.
Oh, and in the afterword, the way the authors conclude the book on a bootstrappy tone ("Nevertheless, most Americans believe that good people, given opportunities, will pick themselves up by their bootsraps, and move on. [...] All that we can be certain of is that ethnicity by itself is no longer an impediment.") seems contrived and overly optimistic given the various instantiations of discrimination and violence that minority groups in America have, and continue to, face. I don't know. Maybe I'm being cynical.
I had a few gripes with this book, though. For one, some parts of it seemed carelessly edited. Vincent Chin was killed in 1992? Come on. That's an entire decade off, and a huge problem for students trying to situate Chin's murder in the 1980s when anti-Japanese sentiment was running high. There were other errors like this, and for a book that's well into its fifth edition, I think these kinds of noticeable/important errors and typos were inexcusable. Furthermore, the mention of Malcolm X was totally cursory! He was mentioned in passing with Elijah Muhammed in a note about the rise of the Nation of Islam in the 1960s. The least Dinnerstein et al. could have done was to make the connection between Malcolm's calls for black nationalism to the rise of the Black Panther Party! The point of history is to be making these connections, and I felt this book (at times) became more a list of facts and events than drawing useful connections. For a figure who has been so misrepresented already, I didn't feel like this book did him right.
Oh, and in the afterword, the way the authors conclude the book on a bootstrappy tone ("Nevertheless, most Americans believe that good people, given opportunities, will pick themselves up by their bootsraps, and move on. [...] All that we can be certain of is that ethnicity by itself is no longer an impediment.") seems contrived and overly optimistic given the various instantiations of discrimination and violence that minority groups in America have, and continue to, face. I don't know. Maybe I'm being cynical.
February 3, 2018
This book is one of the most comprehensive, factual, easy to digest volumes on ethnic history that emphasizes the plight of Native Indians, African Americans and all immigrants ever emigrating to America. I learned so much from this small volume packed with just enough data to give you in depth history in Ethnic America. While I do not hold a personal opinion towards the authors and their opinions, I do hold high regard for the data they present to the reader.
August 6, 2013
I recommend this book for connecting the dots between the many immigrant ethnicities in America because it covers a great deal of time, history, and information in a concise length.
May 4, 2019
Started reading the 5th edition of this book and in less than one minute was startled by the authors' euphemism that Europeans "sought blacks from Africa to aid them" -- (Sought? Aid?) and together these populations overran the Native American population. (Together?) Literally the 2nd sentence of the preface. As other reviewers have pointed out, this book sweeps quickly and with unchallenged confidence over 100s of years of complex histories of racial and ethnic groups who peopled what became the US. Simplifications and overgeneralizations abound, as well as cultural bias. For example, Indians signed treaties "to bring peace." Enslaved African Americans are described as being perceived as "Sambos or rebels," or "sullen and resentful or ... alternately sullen and uncooperative." Some judicious searching in the index shows scant coverage or recognition of the fact that Mexicans were present throughout the southwest and did not magically disappear with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Indeed, Latinos in general are marginalized from this history of the US and relegated to the book's last chapter, which describes them as "new immigrants" when in fact they were present already in the 1600s when the vast southwest, California, and beyond were Mexico. While there is certainly good information in this book, it is a problematic read with much to unpack.
September 2, 2017
All the facts (dryly presented, but they're there), but there's this whole "bootstraps" mythology that permeates the book like a bad smell. Another way to say it is: yes, it's citing valid sources. But I disagree with it's presentation, and ultimately it's conclusion.
February 25, 2022
Very academic, but easily digestible. The bite-sized sections made it easily readable. It requires multiple reads and more attention for me to remember the specific numbers, but that’s not a bad thing.
December 6, 2022
again read it for my class, and it was interesting to say the least.
March 12, 2025
Super interesting and you really see the repativness in history. I think some terms used in the book maybe isn't the most accurate and proper anymore but yeah, interesting.
February 9, 2014
I recommend this book for connecting the dots between the many immigrant ethnicities in America because it covers a great deal of time, history, and information in a concise length.
September 20, 2014
Re-read / added to Connor's reading list because of border issues... Still stands as relevant when discussing immigrants as the "other" and their journey toward "becoming" an American..
July 6, 2025
HIST 8980: Hawes Thematic Studies; Fall 2005;
HIST 6702: Sherman: US History since 1945; Fall 2005
HIST 6702: Sherman: US History since 1945; Fall 2005
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews