The historiography of immigrants and ethnic minorities: Britain compared with the USA

Abstract

Writing on immigrants and ethnic minorities in both Britain and the USA has a long history. The present article covers a series of themes. First, it traces some of the main developments in the historiography of immigrants and ethnic minorities in both countries. Second, it argues that, because of the centrality of race in the development of the USA, and acceptance of this fact, studies of immigration and ethnicity have been central in the development of academic history in the USA during the twentieth century. In contrast, British historians have regarded immigration with ambivalence and even hostility. Third, the article looks at the practitioners of immigrant and minority history and concludes that it is much easier for a member of mainstream white middle‐class society to write on the history of minorities than vice versa.

Keywords:

• Historiography
• immigration
• ethnic minorities
• Britain
• USA