Open Doors, Back Doors
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “‘Aliens’ in America.” You can listen to the entire episode here. In a country populated by immigrants, why are Americans so wary of newcomers? Historian Mae Ngai explains that the door slammed shut in the the 1920s. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Excerpted [...]
"Aliens" in America
In a country populated by immigrants, why are Americans so wary of newcomers? What’s the difference between the nativism of the early Republic and and the anti-immigrant sentiment on talk radio today? How do we draw the line between “us” and “them?” Historian Mae Ngai explains that the door slammed shut in the the 1920s. [...]
