Walls and Mirrors: Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants, and the Politics of Ethnicity

by David G. Gutiérrez

Covering more than one hundred years of American history, Walls and Mirrors examines the ways that continuous immigration from Mexico transformed―and continues to shape―the political, social, and cultural life of the American Southwest. Taking a fresh approach to one of the most divisive political issues of our time, David Gutiérrez explores the ways that nearly a century of steady immigration from Mexico has shaped ethnic politics in California and Texas, the two largest U.S. border states.

Drawing on an extensive body of primary and secondary sources, Gutiérrez focuses on the complex ways that their pattern of immigration influenced Mexican Americans' sense of social and cultural identity―and, as a consequence, their politics. He challenges the most cherished American myths about U.S. immigration policy, pointing out that, contrary to rhetoric about "alien invasions," U.S. government and regional business interests have actively recruited Mexican and other foreign workers for over a century, thus helping to establish and perpetuate the flow of immigrants into the United States. In addition, Gutiérrez offers a new interpretation of the debate over assimilation and multiculturalism in American society. Rejecting the notion of the melting pot, he explores the ways that ethnic Mexicans have resisted assimilation and fought to create a cultural space for themselves in distinctive ethnic communities throughout the southwestern United States.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, American History, Race

321 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 1995

Reviews

[Jason Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 1995 and it’s remarkable to see the continuing patterns forming on immigration perception and the policies from those perceptions.

[Hans Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a little slow-going at the start, historian David Gutierrez's "Walls and Mirrors" is an inspired and detailed examination of nearly two centuries of Mexican-American and Mexican Immigrant dynamics and the struggles of both groups to form distinct identities as recognized by Anglo-American society at large. Tracing a history of discrimination and marginalization from the Texas Revolution's abrupt changing the nationality of the Tejanos through to immigration battles in Congress and public opinion in the 1990's, Gutierrez shows that unanimity and broad agreement regarding immigration policies among the Mexican-American and Mexican Immigrant communities is a vital and necessary step - albeit one taken only in recent decades - to leverage their struggles into a fight for equality.

[Atif Taj · Rating 3 out of 5]

The social and political myopia of Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants created by democratic forces are not real but rather the weakness of the government providing basic education, health care, and food security. The negative portrayals of non Caucasian’s has further divided the nation. It’s the truth that migration from south has been continuing and has been welcomed in agriculture and construction industry.

[Mike Mena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of the the perception of immigration over time from within the Mexican origin community. This adds a deeply complex layer to the history of Latinxs in the US. I definitely recommend.

[Sophia Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the description and analysis of different poles of Mexican American and Chicano activism re. immigration. It gave me perspective on activism as both spectrum and evolution. Every group played a specific part.

[Odnalro De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it.

[Blanca]

SO MUCH INFORMATION. It's a little overwhelming, but interesting nonetheless. I'd say it's a good point of reference to use.