Race Relations in America: A Reference Guide with Primary Documents(Major Issues in American History)

America has struggled with racial issues since its birth centuries ago. In this pivotal study of racism in the United States, over 90 primary documents provide compelling evidence of how race has affected and shaped our country throughout the years. A narrative overview of each event, expert analysis, the text of primary sources contemporary to the time of the event, and ready reference materials will help both high school and college students to understand how race has affected the country. From the framing of the Constitution to the removal of American Indians and the Civil War, students will learn how racism is prevalent even in today's society, be it in the war on terrorism, anti-immigrant feelings, or views against casinos on Native American reservations. Documents include excerpts from speeches, letters, pamphlets, books, essays, newspaper, magazine, and journal articles, government reports, congressional debates, laws, and court decisions.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Randall M. Miller Preface Chronology of Events Introduction Constituting the Republic: Who Counted as What Trail of Tears: Indian Removal from East to West Nat's Rebellion: The War Over Slavery Begins War With Mexico: Race, Borders, and Manifest Destiny Civil War: Slavery and Emancipation in Black and White After Slavery? Reconstruction and Segregation Geronimo: Ending the Indian Wars Yellow Peril: Anti-Asian Animus from Exclusion to Internment From Nadir to New Negro: Segregation, Migration, and the New Deal "To Secure These Rights": From Desegregation to Long, Hot Summers Wounded Knee Again: The New Indian, Reservations, and Casinos Affirmative Action and "Reverse Discrimination" Backlash Race on Trial in the 1990s At the Border Again? New Immigrants and Old Worries From Teheran to Baghdad: Facing Race with Arabs and Muslims

About the Author :
Thomas J. Davis, Ph.D., J.D., teaches history and law at Arizona State University, Tempe. He is the author of A Rumor of Revolt: The Great Negro Plot in Colonial New York, which the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights in North America prized as one of the outstanding books of 1985 on race relations. He is also author of numerous articles on race and law and co-author of Africans in the Americas: A History of the Black Diaspora.

Review :
Controversy persists as to whether or not race is a scientific fact; Davis points out, nonetheless, that race has persisted as a historical fact, constructed with cultural and social norms. This admirable work thus appropriately addresses those racial groups that have been the most pronounced in the American experience: African, Asian, Mexican, Native, and Arab Americans….Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. [A]s a first bite into real history, history in the making, the book is excellent… Recommended for all students of US history, and everybody else! For those students whose teachers require primary sources, this book will be a major asset….This title should be in high school or college library collections as a valuable source of information for analysis and debate on American racial issues. Recommended. Any college-level collection strong in American history and social studies must have Race Relations in America: A Reference Guide with Primary Documents….Source material passages - some several pages in length - accompanied by an annotated research guide of books and web sites make for a winning presentation certain to have long-lasting lending value. [R]ace Relations in America, by Thomas J. Davis, is a study of racism in the United States. More than 90 primary documents offer evidence of how race has affected and shaped our country throughout its history. Key events are presented with narrative overviews, expert analyses, the texts of primary sources contemporary to the time of each event, and ready reference materials to help high school and college students understand how race has affected the country….Students will learn how racism has remained prevelent to the present day, from the framing of the Constitution to the displacement of American Indians, The Civil War, and such current conflicts as the war on terrorism, anti-immigrant sentiments, and opposition to casinos on Native American reservations.