Walls and Mirrors

CoveringmorethanonehundredyearsofAmericanhistory,"WallsandMirrors"examinesthewaysthatcontinuousimmigrationfromMexicotransformed-andcontinuestoshape-thepolitical,social,andculturallifeoftheAmericanSouthwest.Takingafreshapproachtooneofthemostdivisivepoliticalissuesofourtime,DavidGutierrezexploresthewaysthatnearlyacenturyofsteadyimmigrationfromMexicohasshapedethnicpoliticsinCaliforniaandTexas,thetwolargestU.S.borderstates.Drawingonanextensivebodyofprimaryandsecondarysources,GutierrezfocusesonthecomplexwaysthattheirpatternofimmigrationinfluencedMexicanAmericans'senseofsocialandculturalidentity-and,asaconsequence,theirpolitics.HechallengesthemostcherishedAmericanmythsaboutU.S.immigrationpolicy,pointingoutthat,contrarytorhetoricabout'alieninvasions',U.S.governmentandregionalbusinessinterestshaveactivelyrecruitedMexicanandotherforeignworkersforoveracentury,thushelpingtoestablishandperpetuatetheflowofimmigrantsintotheUnitedStates.Inaddition,GutierrezoffersanewinterpretationofthedebateoverassimilationandmulticulturalisminAmericansociety.Rejectingthenotionofthemeltingpot,heexploresthewaysthatethnicMexicanshaveresistedassimilationandfoughttocreateaculturalspaceforthemselvesindistinctiveethniccommunitiesthroughoutthesouthwesternUnitedStates.