Diaspora

The use of “diaspora” in history and social science to refer to an ethnic group dispersed from its homeland was originally a designation in antiquity for the biblical group of Israelites who strayed from God's law, was sent into slavery and exile, atoned, and was redeemed through return. McAlister will explore the religious connotations in diasporic thought among migrant groups in the Americas, and how religious meaning-making inflects how groups travel, locate, spend, educate their children, and move as political actors.