Foreigners in Their Own Land

Foreigners in their Own Land: A Mexican American Studies Reader provides students with a carefully selected collection of articles that demonstrate how the Mexican American story can be interwoven within a traditional, American master narrative. It provides a thematic overview of issues that have shaped the Mexican American experience in the United States while simultaneously covering centuries of history. Readers gain an understanding of the diversity of the Hispanic culture and how Mexicans are one small part of the Hispanic story.

The readings in this anthology are written by scholars from a range of disciplines—history, political science, sociology, criminology, and anthropology, to name a few—showcasing a wide range of perspectives. The book is organized into six chapters, which address U.S.-Spanish heritage and exploration; Mexican women in the 19th century; Mexican lynching; immigration and the Bracero Program; education; and borderlands and 21st century Mexican Americans. Each chapter includes an introduction, the selected readings, and discussion questions that enhance the learning experience and inspire critical thought.

Challenging the typical master narrative of U.S. history, Foreigners in their Own Land is an engaging and enlightening supplemental resource for courses in Mexican American studies.