Migration is a natural part of living systems, and human history is no exception. Yet it remains one of the most debated public issues of our time.
Both people and borders move. Who is allowed to move, and who is granted rights, lies at the heart of how nations define belonging. In Germany and the United States alike, these debates have been deeply intertwined with evolving ideas of race and ethnicity.
These timelines trace how citizenship and belonging have been constructed, challenged, and redefined through laws, social movements, global events, and cultural works — and how those histories continue to shape the present.
The 1968 Bilingual Education Act was the first federal legislation geared toward assisting students with limited English proficiency. Following the abolishment of the quota system (,[object Object],), the influx of new immigrants to the U.S. was met with school systems struggling to meet the needs of its growing non-native English speaking demographic. Moreover, the 1968 Act came on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, which fought for more inclusive education systems and resulted in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Title VI included provisions for funding specifically for language programs for non-native English speakers. Ultimately, the act provided federal funding for schools that opted to develop a bilingual education program.
