Rhode Island Model for the Nation

Why one of America’s most diverse states is sitting out the immigration wars
What Rhode Island can teach us about immigration.

By J.M. Opal

May 21, 2018 at 6:00 AM
Washington Post


The smallest and strangest state in the union might help us take things down a notch.

Tucked between Connecticut and Massachusetts, tiny Rhode Island has some of the most conspicuous immigrants in the country. Portuguese and Spanish are commonly spoken around Providence, the state’s capital. Refugees from Guatemala and Liberia live near older communities of Colombians and Armenians. One-fifth of the residents speak a language other than English at home.

Yet Rhode Islanders show little interest in race-tinged plans to deport newcomers or make English the official language. What’s their secret?
Washington Post

Now more than ever, that sounds like a good model for the nation.

J.M. Opal taught at Colby College before moving to Montreal in 2009, where he is now the chair of the department of history and classical studies at McGill University.