American Intolerance

October 1, 2018
In this concise study, historian Bartholomew and journalist Reumschussel argue that, though some Americans claim to oppose immigration currently on economic grounds, in reality today, as in many instances over the past 200 years, immigration opponents are motivated by seeing ethnic or religious groups as socially or culturally threatening. Just as Muslims are today portrayed in the media and by immigration opponents as attempting to undermine national security, throughout the 19th century Protestant Americans feared Catholic migrants, especially those from Ireland, because they saw them as minions of the Pope; American cities saw outbreaks of violence against Catholic churches and convents. At the same time, throughout the Southwest, some despised Mexicans as “mongrels” whose alleged mental inferiority encouraged them to follow bandits or Communists, and immigrants from China were characterized in the pulp novels and tabloids of the late 19th and early 20th centuries as “pigtailed barbarians” who lived in squalor and corrupted American youth. During the World Wars, German and Japanese immigrants were accused of being enemy agents, and some American scientists’ embrace of eugenics discouraged the nation from accepting many Jewish refugees. This is not enjoyable to read, but it effectively shows that hatred and fear of immigrants is a longstanding American tradition. Agent: Scott Mendel, Mendel Media Group.

October 15, 2018

Immigration is perhaps one of the more divisive topics today. President Trump's call for a border wall and negative comments about people from various countries are countered by beliefs that the United States, as a nation of immigrants, should be more welcoming. But has America always been welcoming? It is in answering this question that sociologist Bartholomew (history, Botany Coll.; coauthor, A Colorful History of Popular Delusions) and journalist Reumschüssel provide a historical review of the treatment of U.S. immigrants, from anti-Catholic hysteria in the 1840s to the anti-Muslim stance of the current administration; the authors posit that America has been unwelcoming of immigrants throughout its history. Whether Catholics, Chinese, Germans, Mexicans, Jews, Muslims, or even Native Americans, there is a long history of abuses against immigrants and people deemed "other" by those in power who seek to use various groups as scapegoats for larger social problems. VERDICT While no new ground is broken in this study, the authors present a well-researched review of American immigration literature and reveal that current debates are not a recent phenomenon, but that perhaps we can better understand our history and learn from its lessons.--Michael C. Miller, Austin P.L. & Austin History Ctr., TX

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