Life Behind the Lobby: Indian American Motel Owners and the American Dream (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780804778831)

Indian Americans own about half of all the motels in the United States. Even more remarkable, most of these motel owners come from the same region in India and--although they are not all related--seventy percent of them share the surname of Patel. Most of these motel owners arrived in the United States with few resources and, broadly speaking, they are self-employed, self-sufficient immigrants who have become successful--they live the American dream. However, framing this group as embodying the American dream has profound implications. It perpetuates the idea of American exceptionalism--that this nation creates opportunities for newcomers unattainable elsewhere--and also downplays the inequalities of race, gender, culture, and globalization immigrants continue to face. Despite their dominance in the motel industry, Indian American moteliers are concentrated in lower- and mid-budget markets. Life Behind the Lobby explains Indian Americans' simultaneous accomplishments and marginalization and takes a close look at their own role in sustaining that duality.

Author: Pawan Dhingra
ISBN-10: 0804778833
ISBN-13: 9780804778831
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Language: English
Published: 04/25/2012
Pages: 264
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.69lbs
Size: 8.49h x 5.58w x 0.57d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2012