Contemporary Ethnic Geographies in America

Front Cover
Ines M. Miyares, Christopher A. Airriess
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Oct 19, 2006 - Social Science - 368 pages
Ethnic diversity has marked the United States from its inception. From the migration of the ancestors of Native Americans to the increasingly diverse immigrant populations arriving today, it is impossible to separate ethnicity from an understanding of the United States as a country and "Americans" as a people. At an ever-increasing pace, America today is experiencing watershed changes in its social, cultural, and ethnic/racial geographies.

Considering the impact of these transformations, this unique text examines the experiences of a range of ethnic groups in both historical and contemporary context. It begins by laying out a comprehensive conceptual framework that integrates immigration theory; globalization; transnational community formation; and urban, cultural, and economic geography. The contributors then present a rich set of case studies of key ethnic and racial communities—including those of long-standing significance such as Native Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans, along with the Latin American and Asian groups that make up the vast majority of newer immigrants.

Each case offers a brief historical overview of the group's immigration experience and settlement patterns and discusses its contemporary dynamics. All of these people have transformed—and been transformed by—the places in which they have settled. Exploring these changing communities, places, and landscapes, this book offers a nuanced understanding of the evolution of America's contemporary ethnic geographies.

Contributions by: Christopher A. Airriess, Daniel D. Arreola, Kate A. Berry, Thomas D. Boswell, Elizabeth Chacko, Brian J. Godfrey, Zoltán Grossman, Michael Hawkins, Terry-Ann Jones, Wei Li, Ines M. Miyares, L. HoMana Pawiki, Marie Price, Michael Reibel, Dana G. Reimer, Emily Skop, James A. Tyner, Milton Vickerman, and Bobby M. Wilson
 

Contents

1 Exploring Contemporary Ethnic Geographies
1
2 Creating Contemporary Ethnic GeographiesA Review of Immigration Law
27
3 Native Americans
51
4 The Historical Spaces of African Americans
71
5 Settlement Geographies of Mexican Americans
93
Puerto Ricans Cubans and Dominicans
123
7 NonHispanic West Indians in New York City
151
Legal Status and Settledness
175
Figures Maps and Tables
vii
1 Exploring Contemporary Ethnic Geographies
1
2 Creating Contemporary Ethnic GeographiesA Review of Immigration Law
27
3 Native Americans
51
4 The Historical Spaces of African Americans
71
5 Settlement Geographies of Mexican Americans
93
Puerto Ricans Cubans and Dominicans
123
7 NonHispanic West Indians in New York City
151

9 Andean South Americans and Cultural Networks
191
Community Formation in Time and Space
213
11 Korean Culture and Entrepreneurship
233
The Invisible Ethnic Community
251
13 Asian Indians and the Construction of Community and Identity
271
14 Conflict Migrants from Mainland Southeast Asia
291
Lebanese and Iranians
313
16 New Urban Ethnic Landscapes
331
17 Immigrants at Work
355
18 Ethnic Festivals Cultural Tourism and PanEthnicity
375
Index
397
About the Contributors
407
Contents
v
Legal Status and Settledness
175
9 Andean South Americans and Cultural Networks
191
Community Formation in Time and Space
213
11 Korean Culture and Entrepreneurship
233
The Invisible Ethnic Community
251
13 Asian Indians and the Construction of Community and Identity
271
14 Conflict Migrants from Mainland Southeast Asia
291
Lebanese and Iranians
313
16 New Urban Ethnic Landscapes
331
17 Immigrants at Work
355
18 Ethnic Festivals Cultural Tourism and PanEthnicity
375
Index
397
About the Contributors
407

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About the author (2006)

Ines M. Miyares is professor of geography at Hunter College, CUNY, and executive director of the Conference of Latin Americanist Geographers. Christopher A. Airriess is professor of geography at Ball State University.

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