What's New About the New South? Race, Latino Immigration, and Intergroup Relations

The United States is currently experiencing the largest immigrant and refugee resettlement since the early decades of the twentieth century. Foreign-born newcomers are increasingly heading to southern cities in search of jobs, more affordable housing, safer neighborhoods, and, in some cases, a friendlier welcome. Reactions to immigrants in these communities appear to be mixed, with business and cultural elites praising immigrants for enriching the community, while policy makers, school officials, and social service providers decry the immigrant presence as a strain on local infrastructure. Political scientist Paula McClain argues that in places where immigration is recent and where inter-cultural group relations are already complex, there is a potential for significant cultural realignment. What shape integration takes depends on the mix of groups, the histories of cultural contact, and the local economic outlook. With funding from the Foundation, McClain will examine how Latino immigrants have affected four Southern cities: Greensboro, NC, Greenville, SC, Dalton, GA, and Memphis, TN. She will ask blacks, whites, and Latinos about stereotypes, intergroup relations, and views on immigration, exploring how the new boom in Latino immigration has affected racial dynamics in each city. McClain plans to write a series of articles leading to a book-length manuscript on the results of the project.