“Borderlands” is a term popularized by cultural theorist Gloria Anzaldúa that refers to a place where people of different races and cultures inhabit the same territory. Borderlands exist in our psyches, too. This is why Anzaldúa says that any changes to society must first come from within, from an awareness of our shared struggles.

How does Takaki use the concept of “borderlands” in A Different Mirror? What sort of “borderlands” do you have—or did you once have—in your own psyche?

Teaching Suggestion: Takaki primarily uses Anzaldúa’s concept of “borderlands” to write a more inclusive history and to imagine a more inclusive future for Americans. For students who might need more context to understand the concept of “borderlands” and “borderland theory,” you may opt to have them read this 2010 journal article in Sociology Compass by Nancy A. Naples entitled “Borderlands Studies and Border Theory: Linking Activism and Scholarship for Social Justice,” which helpfully defines the concept over the course of its larger discussion about activism.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who might benefit from an opportunity to hear poetry recited aloud might listen to poems by Gloria Anzaldúa, particularly her poem “To Live in the Borderlands.” In addition to being a scholar, Anzaldúa was also a poet and, through her creative work, also developed and furthered the concept of “borderlands.