audiobook Charisma and Compassion: Cheng Yen and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Movement by C. Julia Huang in History

Description

In this book; leading historian of education Jeffrey E. Mirel retells a story we think we know; in which public schools forced a draconian Americanization on the great waves of immigration of a century ago. Ranging from the 1890s through the World War II years; Mirel argues that Americanization was a far more nuanced and negotiated process from the start; much shaped by immigrants themselves. Drawing from detailed descriptions of Americanization programs for both schoolchildren and adults in three cities (Chicago; Cleveland; and Detroit) and from extensive analysis of foreign-language newspapers; Mirel shows how immigrants confronted different kinds of Americanization. When native-born citizens contemptuously tried to force them to forsake their home religions; languages; or histories; immigrants pushed back strongly. While they passionately embraced key aspects of Americanization―the English language; American history; democratic political ideas; and citizenship―they also found in American democracy a defense of their cultural differences. In seeing no conflict between their sense of themselves as Italians; or Germans; or Poles; and Americans; they helped to create a new and inclusive vision of this country. Mirel vividly retells the epic story of one of the great achievements of American education; which has profound implications for the Americanization of immigrants today.