ABSTRACT
Crime dominates the media and is a key issue in society, but rarely is the history of crime explored in multicultural studies. The relationship between crime and multiculturalism is a fascinating and complex story whose origin in the early history of America offers insights into the persistent strain of prejudice which has impacted our nation. Our failure to address this issue distorts the history of multiculturalism and fosters a crime mythology that erroneously links contemporary cultural groups with criminal behaviors. Studying the history of crime enables youth to understand the complex factors by which the media and those in authority propogate imagery that transforms poor people into criminals.
