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| Worth Reading |
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| Doug Davis |
| Congratulations to Doug Davis of Atlanta, GA, whose essay, On Human Rights & Immigration-The South Moves Ahead, was selected for inclusion in American Crisis, Southern Solutions [NewSouth Books, 2008]. Three years ago, I was fortunate to meet Doug through a week-long class at the University of Iowa’s Summer Writing Festival. That said, learning that his essay is part of this book is not surprising. |
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| Comments from Doug Davis |
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| The Backstory: Much of American opinion of the South was formed by stereotypical Hollywood characters-submissive characters of people of color portrayed in films of the ‘30s and ‘40s, films like Deliverance with its perception of rural Southerners. These views are outdated and incorrect. In reality, many Southerners engage in perceptive thinking and have a passion for fairness and equality for citizens, immigrants, prisoners, or victims of Nature’s wrath. ‘Nother words, we ain’t all rednecks by a long shot! |
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| Doug’s Experience: As an employer, my routine contacts with the burgeoning immigrant population have given me a perspective I might not have had otherwise. I’ve come to see these "aliens" as real people with the same aspirations for a better life as most Americans, and to appreciate their sacrifices and the unfair treatment many receive as they humbly pursue improved conditions for themselves and their families. |
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| The Issue: Americans value the immigrant’s work ethic, but make it impossible for most to obtain legitimacy as licensed drivers, much less citizens. To me, this is similar to the conditions of slavery. That populace, too, was valued for its cheap labor, with almost none of the benefits afforded the general public. |
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| The Essay. Writing about my experiences in witnessing Clinton [TN] High become the first desegregated public school in the nation caused me to see the parallels between our country’s current handling of immigrants and solutions and those offered decades ago in Clinton. I hope my essay might have a positive effect on the thinking surrounding this volatile issue before our nation reverts to increasingly punitive and counter-productive solutions. I believe change is possible with new laws that enable the Silent Majority of Americans who believe in fairness and equal treatment for all, to stand up and be counted. |
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American Crisis, Southern Solutions-From Where We Stand, Promise and Peril
Editor Anthony Dunbar and 16 Southern writers, historians, business- and labor-watchers and philosophers-anchored by economist and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall- offer provocative suggestions for a fresh path American should follow in governance, international affairs, the environment, workplace security, freedom of the press and immigration reform. They present "Southern Solutions," based upon Southern experience, to a nation that has drifted far off course.
American Crisis, Southern Solutions [ISBN: 1-58838-228-1] is available at local and online book retailers and directly from NewSouth Books: www.newsouthbooks.com and 334-834-3556. $25.95
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