Henry Yu

Migration, Contact, and Exoticism in Modern America

Thinking Orientals

Associate Professor of History Henry Yu

What is the difference between an "Oriental" and an "Asian American"? Henry Yu explains how Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans came to be lumped together as "Orientals" and how this eventually led to their understanding of themselves as Asian Americans. Rich in its lyrical use of imagery, in particular, metaphors of migration, mapping, and theatrical life, this study provides a glimpse into what W. E. B, DuBois called the "double consciousness" of racial minorities in the United States. This important book is one of the first to describe how crucial Asian Americans have been in theories of race and culture, helping move use away from the black/white dichotomy that has missed so much of American social life.

Karen Dubinsky

Adele Perry

In some ways, Canadian history has always been international, comparative, and wide-ranging. However, in recent years the importance of the ties between Canadian and transnational history have become increasingly clear. Within and Without the Nation brings scholars from a range of disciplines together to examine Canada’s past in new ways through the lens of transnational scholarship. Moving beyond well-known comparisons with Britain and the United States, the fifteen essays in this collection connect Canada with Latin America, the Caribbean, and the wider Pacific world, as well as with other parts of the British Empire. Examining themes such as the dispossession of indigenous peoples, the influence of nationalism and national identity, and the impact of global migration, Within and Without the Nation is a text which will help readers rethink what constitutes Canadian history.

Henry Yu

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