A Nation of Nations : A Great American Immigration Story

“An incisive look at immigration, assimilation, and national identity” ( Kirkus Reviews ) and the landmark immigration law that transformed the face of the nation more than fifty years ago, as told through the stories of immigrant families in one suburban county in Virginia. In the years since the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, the foreign-born population of the United States has tripled. Americans today are vastly more diverse than ever. They look different, speak different languages, practice different religions, eat different foods, and enjoy different cultures. In 1950, Fairfax County, Virginia, was ninety percent white, ten percent African-American, with a little more than one hundred families who were “other.” Currently the Anglo white population is less than fifty percent, and there are families of Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American origin living all over the county. “In A Nation of Nations , National Public Radio correspondent Tom Gjelten brings these changes to life” ( The Wall Street Journal ), following a few immigrants to Fairfax County over recent decades as they gradually “Americanize.” Hailing from Korea, Bolivia, and Libya, the families included illustrate common immigrant themes: friction between minorities, economic competition and entrepreneurship, and racial and cultural stereotyping. It’s been half a century since the Immigration and Nationality Act changed the landscape of America, and no book has assessed the impact or importance of this law as A Nation of Nations . With these “powerful human stories...Gjelten has produced a compelling and informative account of the impact of the 1965 reforms, one that is indispensable reading at a time when anti-immigrant demagoguery has again found its way onto the main stage of political discourse” ( The Washington Post ). The Dramatic And Compelling Story Of The Transformation Of America During The Last Fifty Years, Told Through A Handful Of Families In One Suburban County In Virginia That Has Been Utterly Changed By Recent Immigration. In The Fifty Years Since The 1965 Immigration And Nationality Act, The Foreign-born Population Of The United States Has Tripled. Significantly, These Immigrants Are Not Coming From Europe, As Was The Case Before 1965, But From All Corners Of The Globe. Today Non-european Immigration Is Ninety Percent Of The Total Immigration To The Us. Americans Today Are Vastly More Diverse Than Ever. They Look Different, Speak Different Languages, Practice Different Religions, Eat Different Foods, And Enjoy Different Cultures. In 1950, Fairfax County, Virginia, Was Ninety Percent White, Ten Percent African-american, With A Little More Than One Hundred Families Who Were 'other.' Currently The African-american Percentage Of The Population Is About The Same, But The Anglo White Population Is Less Than Fifty Percent, And There Are Families Of Asian, African, Middle Eastern, And Latin American Origin Living All Over The County. A Nation Of Nations Follows The Lives Of A Few Immigrants To Fairfax County Over Recent Decades As They Gradually 'americanize.' Hailing From Korea, Bolivia, And Libya, These Families Have Stories That Illustrate Common Immigrant Themes: Friction Between Minorities, Economic Competition And Entrepreneurship, And Racial And Cultural Stereotyping. It's Been Half A Century Since The 1965 Immigration And Nationality Act Changed The Landscape Of America, And No Book Has Assessed The Impact Or Importance Of This Law As This One Does, With Its Brilliant Combination Of Personal Stories And Larger Demographic And Political Issues-- Part One: Two Families From Korea ; A Family From Bolivia ; Out Of Korea ; Bolivia To America ; A Family From Libya ; Crossroads ; A Libyan Boy In America -- Part Two: Good Immigrants, Bad Immigrants ; Jfk ; The 1965 Reform -- Part Three: Turning Point ; Minorities ; Diversity ; Muslim Americans ; Integration ; Initiative -- Part Four: Backlash ; After 9/11 ; The Second Generation ; Politics ; Americanization. Tom Gjelten. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 349-385) And Index. **“An incisive look at immigration, assimilation, and national identity” (__Kirkus Reviews__) and the landmark immigration law that transformed the face of the nation more than fifty years ago, as told through the stories of immigrant families in one suburban county in Virginia.**__A Nation of Nations____The__ ), followinga few immigrants to Fairfax County over recent decades as they gradually “Americanize.” Hailing from Korea, Bolivia, and Libya, the families included illustrate common immigrant themes: friction between minorities, economic competition and entrepreneurship, and racial and cultural stereotyping. It’s been half a century since the Immigration and Nationality Act changed the landscape of America, and no book has assessed the impact or importance of this law as . With these “powerful human stories...Gjelten has produced a compelling and informative account of the impact of the 1965 reforms, one that is indispensable reading at a time when anti-immigrant demagoguery has again found its way onto the main stage of political discourse” ().