The Sweetness of Freedom: Stories of Immigrants

Ostrander and Bloomfield, curators at the Michigan Historical Museum, interviewed many immigrants or children of immigrants who came to Michigan during the twentieth century. The introduction reminds the reader that, until the mid-twentieth century, the population of the state was largely of European descent. The new arrivals are political and economic refugees from many lands. They are escaping wars and religious persecution. Some come to study and remain. The stories are told in their own words with an introduction and the date of the interview for each. Not all the accounts are rhapsodic. Several of the newcomers found hardship and prejudice and some still struggle to feel at home in Michigan. Interestingly, the authors include interviews with hyphenated Americans: Mexican, African and Japanese. These accounts tell of people made to feel alien in their own country. The stories are accompanied by family photographs. This is a fine portrait of the experiences of recent settlers in Michigan, a microcosm of the American experience. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)