| A Community of Equals Contributor(s): Fiss, Owen (Author), Danticat, Edwidge (Foreword by) |
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ISBN: 0807004375 ISBN-13: 9780807004371 Publisher: Beacon Press OUR PRICE: $13.86 Product Type: Paperback Published: May 1999 Annotation: In the last fifty years, many barriers to entering this country--those based on race, language, and national origin--have been eliminated. But at the same time, new immigrants have been stripped of their rights by Congress and a public fearful of competing for jobs and public services. In this timely book, Owen Fiss examines the paradox of such xenophobic treatment within a democracy committed to pluralism. He looks closely at what he calls the major social disability immigrants face--unequal access to employment, education, welfare, and medical care--and traces the legal acts and amendments that deny immigrants these rights--rights that are granted, he argues, by the Constitution. Fiss challenges the courts to invoke the courage they once brought to landmark civil rights cases and apply it now to improve our treatment of immigrants. He argues that it is in the interest of all of us--citizens and citizens-to-be--to live up to the promises our Constitution provides. His essay is answered by lawyers, civil rights activists, and leading academics who lend forcefulness to his plea. This book is essential reading as we continue our national debate on who is entitled to the abundance of America. "A crucial contribution to a debate about immigration and equality in our prosperous, paranoid times. The fundamental constitutional issues raised by this book should not be ignored and cannot be postponed." |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Law | Constitutional - Political Science | Civil Rights - Law | Emigration & Immigration |
| Dewey: 342.730 |
| LCCN: 98-52826 |
| Series: New Democracy Forum |
| Physical Information: 0.4" H x 5.39" W x 8.02" (0.33 lbs) 128 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The acute desire to close American borders to new arrivals, mostly persons of color from developing countries, has surfaced in school board gatherings, town hall meetings, gubernatorial races, even presidential elections. . . . Does America still see itself as the 'land of immigrants'? Why not . . . invest in the survival and progress of all immigrants?--Edwidge Danticat, from the Foreword In this timely book, Owen Fiss examines the paradox of new immigrants being stripped of their rights within a democracy committed to equality. Arguing that it is in the interest of all of us-citizens and citizens-to-be-to live up to the promise of our Constitution, Fiss challenges the courts to invoke the courage they once brought to landmark civil rights cases and to apply it now to preserve a community of equals. Distinguished scholars and activists respond and debate the implications of Fiss's argument. The New Democracy Forum is a series of short paperback originals exploring creative solutions to our most urgent national concerns. |