Book Review Anne Pegler-Gordon 's in Sight of America: Photography and the development of U.S. immigration policy, is a study that illustrates the importance of photography and the development of photographic identity documentation and its role in the regulation of immigrants. In addition the study explains how these developments produced racial distinction and how these distinctions contributed to the immigration policy of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Pegler Gordon main argument is that photographic identity documentation further created discrimination in race and created none representation for certain immigrants, therefore developing a racialized system of enforcement that directly affected immigration into the U.S. The focus on photography and the use of photographic identity documentation gives new information regarding the immigration process, especially the immigration
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Pegler-Gordon offers excellent evidence with the use of all her sources. The book was broken up into six distinctive chapters that showcased several examples of how photographic documentation played a role in the development of a racialized system for immigration policy, and how it still plays prominent role in immigration today. Photographic identity during immigration was intended to regulate immigration, but unfortunately it created a racial divide in the U.S. The Pegler-Gordon style of writing, allows the reader to understand all the information that is provided within the book. In addition the author demonstrates visual regulation through the use of inspection and observation on immigration ports. In her conclusion the author states in the process of immigration, “not only were they placed in sight of America, but they placed America with in their sights”[230]. All and all the author offers a great read and information on immigration into the
Pegler-Gordon offers excellent evidence with the use of all her sources. The book was broken up into six distinctive chapters that showcased several examples of how photographic documentation played a role in the development of a racialized system for immigration policy, and how it still plays prominent role in immigration today. Photographic identity during immigration was intended to regulate immigration, but unfortunately it created a racial divide in the U.S. The Pegler-Gordon style of writing, allows the reader to understand all the information that is provided within the book. In addition the author demonstrates visual regulation through the use of inspection and observation on immigration ports. In her conclusion the author states in the process of immigration, “not only were they placed in sight of America, but they placed America with in their sights”[230]. All and all the author offers a great read and information on immigration into the