In this unflinching exploration of one of the most politically charged topics of our time, Pyong Gap Min investigates the racial dynamics that exist among Korean merchants, the African American community, and white society. Focusing on hostility toward Korean merchants in New York and Los Angeles, Min explains how the "middleman" economic role they often occupy--between low-income, minority customers on the one hand and large corporate suppliers on the other--leads to conflicts with other groups. Further, Min shows how ethnic conflicts strengthen ties within Korean communities as Koreans organize to protect themselves and their businesses.
Min examines the 1990 African American boycotts of Korean stores in Brooklyn and the targeting of Korean businesses during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He explores Korean merchants' relationships with each other and with Latin American employees, Jewish suppliers and landlords, and government agencies. His nuanced analysis reveals how Korean communities respond to general scapegoating through collective action, political mobilization, and a host of other strategies.
Fluent in Korean, Min draws from previously unutilized sources, including Korean American newspapers and in-depth interviews with immigrants. Caught in the Middle yields a sophisticated and clear-sighted understanding of the lives and challenges of immigrant merchants in America.
Min examines the 1990 African American boycotts of Korean stores in Brooklyn and the targeting of Korean businesses during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He explores Korean merchants' relationships with each other and with Latin American employees, Jewish suppliers and landlords, and government agencies. His nuanced analysis reveals how Korean communities respond to general scapegoating through collective action, political mobilization, and a host of other strategies.
Fluent in Korean, Min draws from previously unutilized sources, including Korean American newspapers and in-depth interviews with immigrants. Caught in the Middle yields a sophisticated and clear-sighted understanding of the lives and challenges of immigrant merchants in America.