Description
Book SynopsisIn the second half of the twentieth century Dominicans became New York City's largest, and poorest, new immigrant group. By 1990, one of every ten Dominicans lived in New York. This book tells the fascinating story of this emblematic migration from Latin America to the United States.
Trade Review"This detailed, compelling study shows how Dominicans have recreated the modern city in both their national capital of Santo Domingo and Washington Heights in New York through their aspirations, responses to government policy (in both states), and generational change. Hoffnung-Garskoff grounds his study in Dominican national debates over progress and culture before tackling the symbiosis of cities and nations that has intensified since the 1960s."--G.W. McDonogh, Choice "Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition, A Tale of Two Cities is a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines."--Marc Simon Rodriguez, Journal of American History "[T]he questions Hoffnung-Garskof raises ... will be of concern a broad array of scholars. The clarity of the writing, together with the wealth of apposite photographs and other illustrations, will make this text an excellent choice for the classroom as well. This capacious and well-told tale of two cities will reward any scholar with an interest in the history of transnationalism, international migration and the Dominican Republic."--Katja Naumann, H-Soz-u-Kult "Hoffnung-Garskof's narrative is, quite simply, one of the best academic texts I have read in years. It is meticulous but not overwrought, briskly written but not simplistic, and contemporary but not dependent on trendy jargon. I will certainly use it in undergraduate classes on immigration. I would also recommend it to anyone who remains unconvinced about the value of transnational scholarship as a tool to help make sense of the contemporary world and its transformations."--Daniel Reichman, Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology "[F]rom an American Studies and U.S. history perspective, this book is invaluable. It shows the extent to which students of the United States need to become experts on other nations and regions if they are to explain transnational and global processes."--Themis Chronopoulos, Americas
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Foreword xi Maps xxiii Chapter One: From the Burro to the Subway 1 Chapter Two: Progreso Cannot Be Stopped 15 Chapter Three: Beautiful Barrios for the Humble Folk 44 Chapter Four: Yankee, Go Home ... and Take Me with You! 68 Chapter Five: Hispanic, Whatever That's Supposed to Mean 97 Chapter Six: To Have an Identity Here 132 Chapter Seven: Not How They Paint It 163 Chapter Eight: Strange Costumbres 200 Conclusion 243 Appendix: Population Change in the Dominican Republic 249 Notes 251 Selected Bibliography 297 Index 307
