'Ethnic Cleansing' in the United States

James W. Loewen, emeritus professor of sociology, University of Vermont

Ethnic cleansing could never happen in the United States. Right? In his new book, Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism (New Press), Mr. Loewen argues that it did happen here when towns across the country drove out their minority populations between 1890 and 1940.

Q. Ethnic cleansing is a very strong term to use.

A. Many Americans think that ethnic cleansing means killing everybody of

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