Unsung America - by Prerna Lal (Hardcover)

About the Book

Far too often, immigrants are demonized and scapegoated, when they should be celebrated as heroes and revolutionaries. This book strings together both triumphant and painful stories of immigrants who blazed trails and broke barriers in their fight for American citizenship and fundamental human rights.

Book Synopsis

The three biggest things the reader will take away: a. Our fight for citizenship is inter-connected and inter-related to other struggles such as the civil rights movement and the LGBT movement. b. Our heroes have different strategies and tactics and what may work for one does not work for another c. These are stories of ordinary people who did extraordinary things and I think the biggest takeaway for the reader is that they can do it too.

Review Quotes

"Deeply insightful and intentionally detailed - Prerna Lal has conceived a text that breaks down the inner workings of the United States immigration system and the impact it has had on the lives of countless immigrants and families. Lal lays out a timeline both old and new, that vividly chronicles the birth and impact of certain policies, views, and opinions within the realm of immigration policy." -Juan Escalante, Digital Campaigns Manager at FWD.us

Over the years, Prerna's role in "the movement" has changed. They were an organizer and activist who fundamentally changed how undocumented youth organized to fight deportations online, and now they're an immigration attorney and author. But no matter their role, they have been a thorn in the side of anyone who expects tidy, flattened narratives about immigrants. Unsung America, like much of Prerna's other work, pushes us to interrogate our violent immigration system and also uplifts the people whose contributions are too often erased. This is the book we all need to be reading right now." -Tina Vasquez, Senior Immigration Reporter at Rewire News