There were about 14 million immigrants who came to America in the 1920s. In 1924, Congress passed an immigration act, which gave great advantages to white Europeans, yet severely limited the number of immigrants from Asian and African countries. Matter of fact, the number was set at 100 immigrants per year from China!!!, and even less than that from other countries. The immigration act also limited the number of Jews and people from Eastern European descent.
In the United States, primarily because it was experiencing with the “melting pot” concept, racial tensions between whites and Blacks and whites against poor whites and whites against Asians and Africans were always at a heightened level, especially after the freeing of the slaves, and during the early 1900s, particularly when the USA went into the Great Depression.
In this wonderful book, Howard Zinn has done it again with another masterfully produced text about US history. He has a way of telling history through the viewpoints of the non-perpetrators and the oppressed peoples who either had to get out of the way, or be eliminated. Yet, he writes in a very non-confrontational way, but at the same time challenges the status quo from time to time of the things that we were all taught throughout grade school and high school.
In this book, A Young People’s History of the United States, Zinn brings us through the centuries, and the decades that formed the United States as it is today. From the original finding of America by Christopher Columbus (and all the horrible atrocities created by him and his men that were with him), to the settlement of the colonies, the Revolutionary war with Great Britain, the civil war between North and South, the world wars 1 and 2, the Great Depression, the women’s movements, labor unions, civil rights, and the more recent wars of Vietnam and Korea, this book is chock-full of information that will make you think a little broader and deeper than you’ve been made to think before.
A fantastic read!!!
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
