Race, Nation, and Empire in American History, edited by James T. Campbell, Matthew Pratt Guterl, and Robert G. Lee - Large Print Reviews

Large Print Reviews

Race, Nation, and Empire in American History
Edited by James T. Campbell, Matthew Pratt Guterl, and Robert G. Lee

Race, Nation, and Empire in American History
Edited by James T. Campbell, Matthew Pratt Guterl, and Robert G. Lee
Read How You Want, (2009)
In EasyRead Super Large Print, in 20 Point TiresiasLPfont
(Originally Published by The University of North Carolina Press)
Volume 1 - ISBN: 978-1-44299-400-3
Volume 2 - ISBN: 978-1-44298-200-0
Genre: American History

Please note, if you order this book from Amazon.com, each volume needs to be ordered individually.

Reviewed by Herbert White - November 30, 2009

Race relations and ethnic studies are often marginalized or shunted into a subcategory such as Asian or Immigrant studies, when it comes to the study of American history in an academic setting. When such topics are addressed in general survey courses, there is often not the time, or the willingness, to divert from the mainstream narrative to address what is considered by many to be a relatively inconsequential aspect of American history except when addresses specific issues such as the Civil Rights Movement or Women's Suffrage.

In Race, Nation, and Empire in American History, edited by James T. Campbell, Matthew Pratt Guterl, and Robert G. Lee, the editors have compiled a collection of fifteen essays that address the question of how race, ethnicity, and 'our' perception about race have been interwoven into American history. These essays explore the role that race relations have played not only in America's domestic history, but also in the realms of foreign policy, military and economic expansion and imperialism, and in the general field of globalization from the founding of the American Republic to the modern War on Terrorism. The essays in this collection were written by leading scholars from across a range of fields including African diaspora studies, gender history, American studies, sociology, ethnic studies, literary studies, Africana studies, and general history. The essays were authored by James T. Campbell, Ruth Feldstein, Kevin K. Gaines, Matt Garcia, Matthew Pratt Guterl, George Hutchinson, Matthew Frye Jacobson, Prema Kurien, Robert G. Lee, Eric Love, Melani McAlister, Joanne Pope Melish, Louise M. Newman, Vernon J. Williams Jr., and Natasha Zaretsky. Without exception, all these essays are approachable by students at both the high school and college level. As well, the essays strive to provide insights not only on an international level, but also on a personal level, introducing readers to notable, but often forgotten individuals whose contribution to American history were material, but who, as unique individuals, are largely unknown.

The essays in this collection are organized into five thematic sections, namely:

Who's Who: American Encounters with Race - examining how various peoples have been sorted and classified into racial categories and how these categories have changed over time.
Ironies of Empire - this section looks at the global expansion of America, both as a political and cultural power. Topics covered include the annexation of Hawaii and the Americanization of South Africa.
Engendering Race, Nation, and Empire - the essays in this section examine race and national building through the spectrum of gender.
Crossings - the three essays in this section look at three distinct women: Eliza McHatton, Pauli Murray, and Nina Simone. These essays look at how the travels of these three women epitomize how history can be examined through the life stories of the common people.
End Times - lastly, the final essays in this collection look at the impact that racial and cultural differences are having on the modern movement toward globalization, and the impact that these differences have in regard to America's foreign policy decisions and economic endeavors.

Combined, the essays in Race, Nation, and Empire in American History establish that race and ethnic studies are far from inconsequential. Rather they have, and continue to play a significant role in America's domestic and international history and need to be incorporated into the general survey courses that are a required component of most bachelor level degree programs. This book can be used effectively as the primary textbook in an American history course that concentrates on ethnic studies. More important, this is an excellent choice for use as a supplemental text from which to assign readings for students in American history general survey courses.

Race, Nation, and Empire in American History is available from Read How You Want, an on-demand publisher that makes books available in a variety of formats including Braille, DAISY, and five different large print formats. This range of formats makes this, and other books, available not only to visually impaired individuals, but also anyone with a reading or physical disability that makes reading standard print books difficult.

Related Reviews:

Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order, by Robert Kagan.
In this concise, timely book, Kagan examines the differences between the US and Europe, and how these differences will impact future relations between the US and the various European countries.
A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World, by Tony Horwitz.
What happened in America between Columbus's landing in 1492 and the arrival of English colonists at Jamestown? This book answers this intriguing question and provides a glimpse into an overlooked period in American history.

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