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.
In 1900, more than 1,000 foreign-language and ethnic newspapers were in circulation. During this period of mass immigration, the boom in “ethnic press” reflected significant cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. Immigrants, often underrepresented in mainstream press, turned toward alternative journalism and published their own newspapers. It also allowed immigrants to stay connected with news from their home countries as well access information in their native language. Migrant newspapers and ethnic press created a space for greater participation, dialogue, and representation in the media.
