Korean-Americans: Past, Present, and Future

3/5 ( ratings)

Korean-Americans: Past, Present, and Future is a limited-edition publication commemorating the first 100 years of Korean immigration. From its account of the rich history of Korean immigration to the United States, to providing current sociological research on such issues as the interplay of family dynamics and gender roles in Korean-owned businesses or the role and function of religious communities in the discovery of the Korean identity, this work presents a panoramic tour of a people desiring to belong within the American milieu while retaining the heritage and values of a homeland they left. In the end, a compelling vision is made for an active engagement of all Koreans and Korean-Americans into the social, political, cultural, and economic life of the United States that does not negotiate one's tradition and self-identity, but one which enriches them and inspires others to join in the enterprise. By charting the history and lessons of Korean immigration, the contributors uncover the values and spirit of Korean immigrants and how the struggle to survive and thrive, then and now, is reinterpreted by each succeeding generation. Included in this book is a section of prize-winning essays submitted by Korean-American college students concerning topics including acculturation and the role of Korean-Americans in politics. This book was commissioned by the Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration to the United States-Greater New York, and edited by Dr. Ilpyong Kim, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Political Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, and President of the International Council on Korean Studies .