Making Ethnic Choices

California's Punjabi Mexican Americans

Author: Karen Leonard
ISBN: 1566392020

"[A] thoroughly original study that greatly expands our knowledge of how ethnic identities are formed. Leonard writes clearly and her inclusion of the voices of the Punjabi-Mexicans lends humor and depth to the history. This insightful study will be of interest to all scholars concerned with immigration and ethnicity and the history of California." --The Journal of Asian Studies This is a study of the flexibility of ethnic identity. In the early twentieth century, men from India's Punjab province came to California to work on the land. The new immigrants had few chances to marry. There were very few marriageable Indian women, and miscegenation laws and racial prejudice limited their ability to find white Americans. Discovering an unexpected compatibility, Punjabis married women of Mexican descent and these alliances inspired others as the men introduced their bachelor friends to the sisters and friends of their wives. These biethnic families developed an identity as "Hindus" but also a

Publisher: Temple University Press
Publish Date: 2010-08-17

Subjects: Social Science / General, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / General, Social Science / Sociology / General, Social Science / Sociology / Marriage & Family, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Hispanic American Studies

This book is available in the following Community Centers: Raza Recource Centro (Location: Wall C, Shelf 3)