A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America

In coastal Jamestown’s tobacco-laced morning air and on Angel Island’s fog-shrouded docks, A Different Mirror invites readers to stand alongside Native Americans whose voices echo ancient songs, African Americans whose toil built cotton empires, Jewish and Irish families fleeing persecution, Asian laborers racing the rails, and Latino workers whose hands fed the nation, each chapter forging Racial Justice and Immigrant Rights from spirited personal narratives. Foreword writer Clint Smith and historian Ronald Takaki retell America’s story from the bottom up, illuminating how these communities—bound by shared struggle and unflagging hope—pieced together the nation’s mighty economy and colorful mosaic culture. Their stirring accounts challenge classrooms and book clubs to question who truly built this land and why many stories remain buried beneath polished statues. With each page flicked, readers travel from tribal council fires to bustling tenements, from Yiddish songs on crowded streets to Spanish prayers beneath sunlit orchards, seeing history through a kaleidoscope of faiths, dreams, and defiant perseverance. Equip your syllabus or discussion group with this landmark volume—request it from your local library or bookstore today and broaden your own reflection in America’s diverse mirror.