![]() ![]() Organized into four distinct thematic periods, respectively entitled “Foundations,” “Contradictions,” “Transitions,” and “Transformations,” A Different Mirror presents a sweeping history of America from its earliest settlement by Europeans through the 21st century. Instead, Takaki’s book addresses the foundational contributions of minority groups and puts their experiences at the forefront of American history. ![]() ![]() Takaki’s approach to history is highly comparative and inclusive, as he disrupts a “Master Narrative of American History” that largely focuses on the achievements of white Americans (4). ![]() Takaki’s main argument in A Different Mirror is that the United States, from its inception, has been a multicultural and diverse country, originally inhabited by Native Americans and by subsequent ethnic groups who have worked to advance the ideals of American democracy and its promise of “equality for all.” Takaki provocatively states that America was not settled and developed primarily by Europeans rather, it was built from the appropriated land and labor of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Irish Americans, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, and many more ethnic immigrant groups. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |