A Different Mirror
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Ronald Takaki |
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America is a 1993 publication authored by Ronald Takaki, which received both the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and an American Book Award in 1994.
Overview
A Different Mirror explores the experiences of minority groups within the context of multicultural America, incorporating a variety of sources such as quotations, folk music, correspondence, telegrams, and visual imagery. The book traces the historical narratives of Native Americans, African Americans, Irish, Mexicans, Chicanos, Chinese, Japanese, and Jews. Each section analyzes societal perceptions, legislative measures, and policies impacting these communities, alongside their reactions throughout history.
A central theme addresses the enduring 'us versus them' mentality enforced by dominant powers—ranging from colonial anxieties about the "giddy multitude" to restrictive legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act aimed at safeguarding white labor interests, as well as recurring claims that minorities "tak[e] jobs away from 'Americans.'" Another significant observation reveals how capitalist employers have historically manipulated ethnic rivalries by employing immigrant workers as strikebreakers to weaken labor solidarity—for instance, Chinese laborers during the 1878 Chicago shoemakers' strike.