A renowned professor, author and historian will put the focus on one of America's ugliest open secrets Tuesday, Nov. 2, when she talks with a Middle Tennessee State University audience at this fall's free Strickland Visiting Scholar Lecture.
Dr. Erika Lee, author, historian, professor and director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota

Dr. Erika Lee, the Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair in Immigration History and director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota, will speak on "Xenophobia in America: How We Got Here and What's at Stake" via Zoom webinar beginning at 7 p.m. Central Nov. 2.

Participants can join the free 90-minute webinar at https://mtsu.zoom.us/j/ 83131944430. No password will be required.

During her talk, Lee, who teaches history at Minnesota and is the author of "America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States," will explain how fear, hatred and hostility toward immigrants have defined America since colonial times. She aims to help her audience learn why xenophobia has endured and how it remains a threat to our nation.

"Xenophobia -- our fear and hatred of foreigners -- is as American as apple pie," Lee wrote in a July 4 column for the Los Angeles Times. "And across the centuries, self-proclaimed patriotic citizens have blamed immigrants for all that is wrong in America -- all that is un-American -- while proclaiming their version of America and 'American' to be the truest.