Review of “Immigration, Poverty, and Socioeconomic Inequality,” Edited by David Card and Steven Raphael, 2013. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Paper, 469 pages.
This is a big and thorough book! The history of immigration, poverty, and social programs responding to needs in America is presented here. Counselors, helpers, educators, advocates, and social workers can get a great deal of information about immigration, poverty, and social programs here in one book.
A demanding read, this book provides in-depth information and a multitude of charts and graphs to make the points of the experts writing these chapters. The readings cover all realities and programs after the Great Recession of 2008 and prior to COVID-19.
Editors Card and Raphael introduce this compilation with a clear explanation of their reason for putting these readings together in one place…
They wished to explore how the huge waves of immigration since the 1960s have impacted the US workforce, led to any changes in policies, and produced any competition between the newer immigrants and more established ones here.
The editors divide the book into four parts, each with chapters containing a great deal of data and demanding familiarity and facility with statistics. The information is in-depth and the figures are extensive in each chapter.
· Part I focuses on the composition, competition and geography of immigrant poverty, showing interconnections and impacts of newer waves of immigrants. This section contains readings on the role of language in the ability to obtain and hold onto employment and the new locations immigrants now choose.
· Part II contains readings looking at intergenerational issues and mobility. Included are readings on achievement, opportunity, and social capital.
· Part III focuses not only at poverty issues but also at government responses and restrictions, including notes on the US safety net and how it serves--and does not serve--immigrants. This part includes immigration enforcement and social policy also.
· Part IV contains information on the European experience and provides just one reading showing the history of immigration there and the current realities. It is very interesting to look at the figures there and look at the programs and poverty in Europe and how they contrast with US funding in government programs and the immigrant income levels.
We helpers out on the street need detailed information. We need facts. We need research to guide us in our important work. Policymakers, community college administrators, and community organizers and activists, especially, can make good use of the in-depth reporting found in each of the book’s chapters.
Note that high school and college teachers and administrators will learn a great deal from the chapter on Generation 1.5 students,
some of whom go on to college and some who decide to follow other paths. Professor Roberto Gonzales explains the factors of family poverty and some students’ lack of documentation to be in the US as main reasons talented young people do not consider higher education choices when the time comes.
Gonzalez has a strong understanding of the plight of some Generation 1.5 students. His comments are valid and insightful. He has conducted a qualitative study with interesting and revealing results.
Readers must have facility with statistics…
…to be able to understand most of the information in the book. Full of essential graphs and charts, the book provides up-to-date figures, and it illustrates tendencies from those years close to the publishing of this volume.
Warnings aside, I recommend the book. For readers less skilled in the statistics, there is still valuable information here.
I would advise readers to proceed one chapter at a time, making notes and considering the discussion section in-depth before going on in the book.