Offers insights on Latino Caribbean writers born or raised in the United States who are at the vanguard of a literary movement that has captured both critical and popular interest. In this groundbreaking study, William Luis analyzes the most salient and representative narrative and poetic works of the newest literary movement to emerge in Spanish American and U.S. literatures. The book is divided into three sections, each focused on representative Puerto Rican American, Cuban American, and Dominican American authors. Luis traces the writers' origins and influences from the nineteenth century to the present, focusing especially on the contemporary works of Oscar Hijuelos, Julia Alvarez, Cristina Garcia, and Piri Thomas, among others. While engaging in close readings of the texts, Luis places them in a broader social, historical, political, and racial perspective to expose the tension between text and context. As a group, Latino Caribbeans write an ethnic literature in English that is born of their struggle to forge an identity separate from both the influences of their parents' culture and those of the United States. For these writers, their parents' country of origin is a distant memory. They have developed a culture of resistance and a language that mediates between their parents' identity and the culture that they themselves live in. Latino Caribbeans are engaged in a metaphorical dance with Anglo Americans as the dominant culture. Just as that dance represents a coming together of separate influences to make a unique art form, so do both Hispanic and North American cultures combine to bring a new literature into being. This new body of literature helps us to understand not only the adjustments Latino Caribbean cultures have had to make within the larger U.S. environment but also how the dominant culture has been affected by their presence.

Between Two Cultures: The Case of Cambodian Women in America is a study of Cambodian (Khmer) refugee women who settled in Lowell, Massachusetts, a city known for its immigrant history. This study describes the «journeys» made and the challenges faced by these newcomers as they attempted resettlement in an environment very different from their home country. Simply and lucidly, Mitra Das gives us captivating insights and an understanding of the experiences of this group of refugees from «different shores.» In so doing, she brings to life the processes and conditions that are important for adaptation to American society. It can be a valuable source for understanding the dynamics of migration, ethnicity, and gender and can be used for those courses in sociology. People outside of academia working with refugee and immigrant groups will also find this book to be a valuable resource.

Investigating various ways in which the cultures of the town and the countryside interact in architecture, original essays in this book written by an international range of recognized theorists will help all students of architecture and urban design understand how the urban and rural relate. Taking a broad historical sweep, this collection draws on a symposium of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain.

This volume deals with social, emotional and educational issues of Muslim children growing up in a Western country. It aims at shedding light on factors that contribute to the successful adjustment of these immigrant children and ways of helping them to adjust to the new life in their new country.

What separates human beings from animals are the intellect, power to reason, and the mind - the greatest work of God. Human beings are the same in every part of the world. Their nature, instincts, feelings, emotions and desires are all the same. Yet a great barrier separates them bringing an amazing contrast between them - that of culture. It is this cultural aspect of life that is the inspiration behind the book. How and why are the questions raised, and adequately answered. This book touches every human being in every society, irrespective of the diversity. The focus is mainly on the variation between the Eastern and the Western culture. Why are the Eastern people so different from the Western people? How come their cultures are really worlds apart? The people, parted by their geographical locations, are certainly quite hostile to each other. Easterners crossing over to the Western world as immigrants are treated quite adversely. They have their own solid reasons for immigrating as well as what do they see in the Western culture? What is the motive behind most Westerners hostile behavior towards them? In this aspect the ugly faces of discrimination and classification enter the scene. The book delves into these increasingly significant problems of life. The experiences and feelings of migrants into the Western world have been very realistically and poignantly depicted. The very serious problems they face when integrating into a totally alien culture and adjusting to it and the equally serious repercussions on their children, who are caught between the two cultures, are highlighted. What are the roots then of such children and what is their real culture? Deep in their hearts and minds they are surely aware of the problem of their identity and their future. All the problems of immigrants and equally the problems of the Westerners have been discussed in the book. Moreover, the Eastern people have a certain reputation. It is really astonishing to see so much difference in customs, traditions and habits in human kind. Also, the lack of technology and resources that have earned some countries the title - The Third world- is one of the greatest problems of the world nowadays. It also accounts for the lack of confidence on the part of the Easterners and in contrast the over-confidence of the Westerners. The book provides the most beautiful solution to bridge this gap and also prompts the readers to think seriously about this solution. Human beings are supposed to live in harmony and peace with as little difference as possible. Has anyone seriously thought about the concept of liberty? Indeed, everyone is aware of the contrast in the so-called liberty of the West and none whatsoever in the East. The liberalism of the West is termed in the book as 'Miserable liberty' with solid reasons and facts of life to prove it. "Excess of everything is bad" is an apt maxim quoted in the book. On the other hand, the restrictions in the Eastern culture are always taken in the negative. Again there is the frustration factor which is equally prevalent in both cultures in different ways. No one has really researched into these vital problems facing everyone equally, both from the Western world and the Eastern world. Each side has great misconception about the other and has an established reputation existing, due to which the expatriates have the problem of a double survival in a totally alien, quite hostile world. The book contains the real problems of real people and discusses the possible remedies. It repeatedly stresses constructive thinking on the part of very single human being and the need to practically search for the right solutions to make this world a lovely place to live". The book is an amalgamation of all these points and more. It explores deep insights into human nature. Selfishness, artificiality at the expense of other people is very much in abundance. Materialism is the order of the day. But are not we still in denial of these inherent human behaviors? Why has not civilization yet conquered these adverse values? More detailed aspects of human behavior and the concepts of human rights mentioned in the book certainly would make the reader seriously think on these human issues and why they are so. Civilization is perhaps at stake. Another most vital point discussed is the portrayal of religion and why are people going astray from it? Why is there no unity in the Muslims and why do they show the most artificial face of Islam? Christianity has evolved changes - today, we see conversions of churches into discos and clubs. Has anyone really thought about these indispensable issues? Again, has anyone noticed the fact that usually people, after obtaining their goals, tend to forget God? Also has not it become the custom to complain about God? Though there is so much progress in the world and so much advanced technology to make the lives of the people more comfortable, yet rarely are people seen to be satisfied and content. The book points out how to obtain peace in life, which is everyones ultimate goal. Are these cultural differences, opinions or discrimination? The book evolves all these essential and vital issues of life and stresses the utmost need to try and save our societies . After reading this book, the reader would be more aware of issues which are staring us in the face, but sadly very few people are really working on their solutions. For more information please visit www.suleri.nl

"Exceptionally useful are (Aseel's) reflections on what it has meant to be a Muslim in America after September 11 . . . A fascinating multicultural coming-of-age story."--"Booklist."

A collection of key papers given at three international conferences in Britain, the United States and Canada on race relations and multiculturalism are drawn together in this book. The first section includes three papers on the state of theory in race relations; the second contains papers on educational themes, examining in particular the pitfalls in multicultural education. It also looks at the development and problems of second language education for minority groups in several countries. The final section focuses on special topics including the adjustment and identity of children of mixed race marriages; the plight of children from Canada's native communities; and the hearing impaired as a minority group.