Toward A Better Life: America's New Immigrants in Their Own Words From Ellis Island to the Present
"...a welcome reminderthat the vast majority of today's newcomers are tomorrow's productive citizens and that they gravitate here for the same reasons their predecessors did for centuries; some of them even become the anti-foreigners of the future." --New York Times, N.Y./Region Bookshelf"A wonderful bookthat takes you up close and into the lives of America's immigrants, revealing their hopes and dreams, sorrows and fears." --Lee Iacocca, chairman, The Iacocca Foundation, former CEO and chairman of Chrysler Corporation, founding chairman of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation"While the ethnic details and backgrounds of the people profiled in this book may be different, they all tell the same story. These stories, including my own, are one of transformation, rebirth, and rediscovery. This country was founded not on land and law alone, but on shared beliefs. It is a faith in individualism, creativity, and that with talent and hard work you too can achieve your dreams. My family and I had our American Dream fulfilled after landing on Ellis Island over 80 years ago. The heartening stories in this book echo the words of President Kennedy;the dream still lives and the hope never dies." --Isabel Belarsky, Original Ellis Island immigrant, 1930"The struggles, triumphs, and sorrows of America's peopling is best conveyed in the words of those who migrated from their native lands to the United States. Peter Coan'svaluable collection of oral historiesaccompanied by photographs and chronologies offers readers the priceless perspective of those on the move between1890 and the present. Some of these newcomers became famous, most did not. All contributed to the building of America's greatness. It is a book that will find its way onto scholars' bookshelves, student bibliographies, and the reading tables of all who appreciate that American history is the history of peoples on the move. The volume will be a fine companion for the new museum exhibitory on Ellis Island which offers the peopling saga in all its richness from the earliest arrivals up to the present." --Alan M. Kraut, PhD, university professor of history, American University, Washington, DC, Chair of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island History Advisory Committee"Coan's collection of 'new beginning' storiescaptures the spirit of new Americans. Each story frames a different period of history but the drive, dreams, passion and pride of the subjects hasn't changed over time. Immigrants often leave so much behind in order to bring so much forward." --Claire Tesh, Community Education Center senior manager American Immigration Council Washington, DC"An important historical chronicle of the American immigrant experienceevery American should read." --Warren St. John, bestselling author ofOutcasts United"I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and think it is timely and wonderfully captures an important part of our country's history." --Fatima A. Shama, Commissioner Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg New York, New York