Beyond Stereotypes

In an era of ever increasing anti-immigrant sentiment and in the face of the worst economic recession since the great depression, this book presents a timely, compassionate and often moving glimpse into the lives of second generation children of immigrants in urban schools. The editors and distinguished immigration scholars/ researchers and educators in this book provide compelling research and data that focuses on the effects of ethnic stereotyping on the educational outcomes of youth whose roots span the globe from Puerto Rico to Japan and from Mexico to India, as they struggle to construct identities and make a place for themselves in these United States. These young people, mostly born in America and attending American schools, must never the less carry the burden of the stereotypes imposed upon their parents and ethnic groups. How they manage to navigate an often biased and unjust system, circumvent roadblocks and recreate themselves as bicultural or hybrid American citizens, makes for a story of courage, resiliency and transformation that restores hope in the fulfillment of the American dream and lends credence to the Emma Lazarus quote inscribed on the "mother of exiles" statue that graces the New York skyline. "Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,ż I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Additionally the authors present sane and knowledgeable solutions for supporting the education and emotional/psychological/social growth of these young people in our schools, our classrooms and our lives.