these people, such as Jews, have been in America since colonial times, this
series concentrates on their recent migrations, and thereby offers its unique
contribution.

These volumes are designed for high school and general readers who want
to learn more about their new neighbors. Each author has provided infor-
mation about the land of origin, its history and culture, the reasons for
migrating, and the ethnic culture as it began to adjust to American life.
Readers will find fascinating details on religion, politics, foods, festivals, gen-
der roles, employment trends, and general community life. They will learn
how Vietnamese immigrants differ from Cuban immigrants and, yet, how
they are also alike in many ways. Each book is arranged to offer an in-depth
look at the particular immigrant group and to enable readers to compare one
group with the other. The volumes also contain brief biographical profiles
of notable individuals and a short bibliography of readily available books and
articles for further reading. Many contain a glossary of foreign words and
phrases.

Students and others who read these volumes will secure a better under-
standing of the age-old questions of "who is an American" and "how does
the assimilation process work?" Similar to their 19th- and early 20th-century
forebears, many Americans today doubt the value of immigration and fear
the influx of individuals who look and sound different from those who had
come earlier. If comparable books had been written 100 years ago they would
have done much to help dispel readers' unwarranted fears of the newcomers.
Nobody today would question, for example, the role of those of Irish or
Italian ancestry as Americans; yet this was a serious issue in our history and
a source of great conflict. It is time to look at our recent arrivals, to under-
stand their history and culture, their skills, their place in the United States,
and their hopes and dreams as Americans.

The United States is a vastly different country than it was at the beginning
of the twentieth century. The economy has shifted away from industrial jobs;
the civil rights movement has changed minority-majority relations and, along
with the women's movement, brought more people into the economic main-
stream. Yet one aspect of American life remains strikingly similar -- we are
still the world's main immigrant-receiving nation and, as in every period of
American history, we are still a nation of immigrants. It is essential that we
attempt to learn about and understand this long-term process of migration
and assimilation.

Ronald H. Bayor
Georgia Institute of Technology

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