However, recent writings have put more stress on the ethnic diversities which remain and on the rich variety of contributions which were made to the American scene by each new nationality.
This volume depicts the immigrants from Africa as one among the many elements which created present-day America.

On the one hand, they differ from the other minorities because they came involuntarily, suffered the cruelties of slavery, and were of another color.

All of this made their experience unique.

On the other hand, they shared much in common with the other minorities, many of whom also felt like aliens in their new land.
Throughout most of American history, political power has been held tightly by the white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant majority.

Historical presentations which stressed the political component, thereby tended to leave the later immigrants in the background.