Alison Beard, Harvard Business Review
One of the best lines in the musical Hamilton comes as its hero, Alexander, the American revolutionary born in Nevis, and Lafayette, his French brother-in-arms, celebrate their impending victory over the British. “Immigrants,” they say with a high five, “we get the job done.” The lyric inspired a diverse group of rappers—K’naan, Riz Ahmed, Residente, Snow Tha Product—to build a full-length track around it, and it’s now a slogan for immigrant communities everywhere, featured on posters and mugs.
It’s also the theme of a spate of new books. Some draw on reams of data. Others focus on personal stories. But all make the same point: Immigrant populations power economies and enrich cultures. In an age when nativist sentiment is on the rise, their authors persuasively argue that developed countries should not shun newcomers but welcome them with open arms.