Invisible Sojourners

Arthur documents the role that Africa's best and brightest play in the new migration of population from less developed countries to the United States. He highlights how Africans negotiate and forge relationships among themselves and with the members of the host society. Multiple aspects of the African immigrants' social world, family patterns, labor force participation, and formation of cultural identities are also examined. He lays out the long term aspirations of the immigrants within the context of the geo-political, economic, and social conditions in Africa.

Ultimately, Arthur explains why people leave Africa, what they encounter, their interactions with the host society, and their attitudes about American social institutions. He also provides information about the social changes and policies that African countries need to adopt to stem the tide, or even reverse, the African brain drain. A detailed analysis for scholars, students, and other researchers involved with African and immigration studies and contemporary American society.

Examines the growth of the African immigrant population in the United States.

Booknews

During the past 20 years more Africans have come to the US than at any time since the slavery era. Based on his survey and/or interviews with 650 African migrants in four US cities plus Census and Immigration and Naturalization Service data, Arthur (sociology and criminology, U. of Minnesota-Duluth) studies the reasons for this influx, including facilitative immigration laws; demographics; immigrant relations with each other and the host society; the structure, challenges, and adjustment process of immigrant families; the experience of immigrant women and children; and pathways to citizenship or repatriation. Appends a graph showing recent African immigration, demographic tables, and the survey questionnaire. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

JOHN A. ARTHUR is Professor of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth Campus. He has major interests in international migration, comparative criminology, and criminal justice systems. Professor Arthur has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles and written several book chapters.