Free Downloads Dreamers: An Immigrant Generation's Fight For Their American Dream
Dreamers is a movement book for the generation brought to the United States as children—and now fighting to live here legally Of the approximately twelve million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, as many as two million came as children. They grow up here, going to elementary, middle, and high school, and then the country they call home won’t—in most states—offer financial aid for college and they’re unable to be legally employed. In 2001, US senator Dick Durbin introduced the DREAM Act to Congress, an initiative that would allow these young people to become legal residents if they met certain requirements. And now, more than ten years later, in the face of congressional inertia and furious opposition from some, the DREAM Act has yet to be passed. But recently, this young generation has begun organizing, and with their rallying cry “Undocumented, Unapologetic, and Unafraid” they are the newest face of the human rights movement. In Dreamers, Eileen Truax illuminates the stories of these men and women who are living proof of a complex and sometimes hidden political reality that calls into question what it truly means to be American.
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Beacon Press (March 10, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0807030333
ISBN-13: 978-0807030332
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #96,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #52 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > Political Advocacy #94 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Emigration & Immigration #128 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Human Rights
A must read for anyone concerned with one of the most pressing issues of our time. With the preciseness and sharp eye of a seasoned journalist, and the beautiful, detailed prose of an inspired wordsmith, Eileen Truax tells the stories of several valiant young people whose struggles redefine the meaning of 'American Dream". I don't think I will ever forget the chapter on Joaquín Luna Lerma, powerful and moving. I often share this book with young people whose own struggles are reflected in "Dreamers".
This book is about undocumented young people- people who came to the United States as children, with their parents who came illegally. These are young people who mostly only remember living in the United States. They identify as Americans and are culturally American. Because of their status they cannot get drivers' licenses, they cannot work, they cannot get financial aid for college. This book shares the stories of a selection of these people. Their circumstances vary, but they share a commitment to political activism and they all have faced the soul-crushing realization (usually at the end of high school) that while everyone else is planning their future they may not be able to go to college and can't work legally.As it stands, what happens to these people seems to depend on two things: the potential passage of the DREAM Act, and whatever the whims are of the local authorities. Some people have been deported. But many have turned to political activism, and seem to be having some degree of success. In a fascinating political web of interests, the numerical significance of Latino votes means that politicians who favor hard-line, deportation-focused policies, are also terrified of the potential bad press that can come from mass deportations. So, many of these immigration raids and forced "repatriations" happen in secret. Young activists have realized that the more publicity they get, the more likely they are to be successful. The young men and women profiled in this book are using that threat of public embarrassment to work for legislative change.This book is in itself a work of political activism. Truax is clearly a supporter of the DREAM Act In getting to know these young people it is hard to deny that they have valuable contributions to make to the United States. Those activist ends also create certain limitations. The book is heavily focused on achievement-oriented youth who are good students and want to pursue college (and often graduate) education. Not every undocumented teenager is going to fit this profile, though they face many of the same challenges. Truax deep feelings for her subject matter and the people she followed lead to sometimes-overwrought prose. Still, this book is a valuable look at an often invisible population.
Increíble!I have not find any publication that explains all the aspects in full on the undocumented student issue. Truax gets close to the subjects and with deep understanding and passion tells us the story behind just a few of the millions of youth dreamers in The U.S. Through her narrative, the reader not only enjoys it, but learns and becomes aware of the lives in the shadows that we all need to shed light to.....A must read for anyone working in public schools, government, and community based agencies serving immigrants.
I wanted to learn more about the DREAMER movement, and this wonderful book really brought it to life from every angle. I am in awe of the bravery of these kids, knowingly risking deportation in acts of civil disobedience. Truax does a terrific job making the issue very personal, from the perspective of the Dreamers themselves, political leaders like Senator Dick Durbin, tirelessly fighting for legislative change over decades, and even anti-immigrant extremists like Sheriff Arpaio. The most powerful chapter for me had to be the one on Nancy Landa, a young professional in California who was deported to Mexico on her way to work one morning, in a surreal scene that changed her life forever, and only succeeded in depriving America of a hard-working, talented, educated, productive young person. This is a must-read for anyone wanting to know more about immigration issues in general, especially how they impact young people and families. Highly recommended!
DREAMERS (Beacon Press) is an emotional, passionate and informative book. It's not about statistics or policies; this book is about 10 young adults and how they are fighting for a future in the only home they've ever known -- America. Read the full review at latinabookclub (dot) com.
This book was very well-written, easy to read and informative. The balance between individual stories and the larger issues was well done. The book made very clear how untenable is the situation of the Dreamers.
This book will have to be part of the history school books. Every person in America must know about this movement, and the best way to do it is by reading this amazing book.
Great addition to this important conversation!
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