Some of the most important changes in American culture have been driven by people born outside the United States. Immigrants may come as refugees, as workers, or as students. They may come as children or as adults. Once here, many speak out for the rights of others or try to build a better country by working within the government. Some give money to good causes. Others point out problems that need to be fixed. Still others create art and music that gives voice to the downtrodden. Here are 25 immigrants who have made a difference by taking a stand.
"These four volumes introduce readers to the feats and achievements of many immigrants to the United States. Included are athletes, artists, politicians, entrepreneurs, inventors, activists, and philanthropists. For example, Immigrants Who Took a Stand includes Mother Jones, who led the fight for workers' rights; Immigrants Who Led the Way features Levi Strauss and his creation of blue jeans; Immigrants Who Built an Empire features Indra Nooyi, who brought great change to PepsiCo as its CEO; and Immigrants Who Served the Nation includes Farouk El-Baz, who played a key role in the Apollo 15 rover mission. Each entry is very brief and focuses mostly on the immigrant's contribution with little mention of their personal life. Also, there is overlap: Elon Musk, Joseph Pulitzer, and Mazie Hirono appear in more than one volume. VERDICT While these are sufficient introductions, selectors would do well to consider more comprehensive biographies."
