California's San Gabriel Valley has been called an incubator for ethnic politics. Located a mere fifteen minutes from Los Angeles; the valley is a brave new world of multiethnic complexity.Here Latinos and Asian Americans are the dominant groups; rather than the minorities they are elsewhere in the United States. Politics are Latino-dominated; while a large infusion of Chinese immigrants and capital has made the San Gabriel Valley the center of the nation's largest Chinese ethnic economy. The white population has dropped from an overwhelming majority in 1970 to a minority in 1990.Leland T. Saito presents an insider's view of the political; economic; and cultural implications of this ethnic mix. He examines how diverse residents of the region have worked to overcome their initial antagonisms and develop new; more effective political alliances.By tracing grass-roots political organization along racial and ethnic lines; Race and Politics focuses on the construction of new identities; especially the panethnic affiliation Asian American.
#1280036 in Books 2013-10-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x .80 x 7.00l; 1.23 #File Name: 0252033663168 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An academic rambler...By SophieI'm sometimes asked--as a tour guide at an historic site--what people used for money during the American colonial period. So I've been doing some Web searches and looking for other resources:This book (published in association with the American Numismatic Society) presents a scholarly treatise on the history of "wampum"--right down to the Native American origins of the word; its many cultural uses (beyond supporting trade and economic exchange); and influences on the later "paper wampum" of the colonies (including depictions of Native American peoples/scenes) on banknotes; well into the 19th century.Well illustrated! Also: plenty of philosophizing and dry musings on sovereignty and coinage around the world; and attitudes toward; and treatment of native American people. About a quarter of the book is reference notes.There's a quality of clutter and rambling to it--that makes the reading of this book (especially; for my purposes!) sort of like poking around someone's roadside antique store: plenty of interesting things to see…though not necessarily what you need...and it takes a while to circulate around. Still; you'd trip over things here that you're not likely to; anywhere else. I'd recommend it more for leisure reading (since that's what it would take) – while sticking to Web searches for quicker; briefer answers to get; and give.
