The Melting Pot Argument
In Israel Zangwill’s play titled “The Melting Pot”, a Russian immigrant character says, “America is God’s crucible, the great melting-pot where all the races of Europe are melting and re-forming!” (Zangwill). Throughout this course, we have studied many different authors. This essay will examine how Hector St. John de Crèvecœur, Octavio Paz, and Irving Howe might have respond to this idea. This essay will conclude by answering how Anzia Yezierska and Ole Edvart Rølvaag would respond to this quote. It is important to note that, all the authors responses to this idea will be inferred though gathering evidence from their writings. Crèvecœur’s article, “What is an American?” holds a very optimistic view on the new opportunities, land, and freedoms America can to offer to its citizens. Crèvecœur explains the differences between Europe and America; he explains what he believes being an American means. Crèvecœur would agree with Zangwill’s character and the idea that America is a melting pot. Crèvecœur even states that, “A American is not just a race. He is a man who sees the richness behind differences…he is a man of the mixture of nations” (Crèvecœur). Crèvecœur clearly is stating that he agrees and sees that there really is no such …show more content…
Howe’s response would not be black or white but rather grey. Howe would agree that America is a melting pot, but points out this may not necessarily be a good thing. In fact, the melting pot could lead to a “bleaching of America” (Howe). Howe then explains that, “the famous melting pot of American society could grow very hot, indeed, too hot for those being melted” (Howe). Howe is explaining that American immigration regulation is essentially “melting” away ethnicities rather than mixing them. He is directly questioning American immigration for the upcoming generations. An interesting take on the normally glorified American melting
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Race And Ethnicity Paradigm
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594 Words | 3 PagesDavid Brook's essay focuses in the main part about the discussions and conversations on race, which is aimed to lead the readers to contemplate the assumptions we take for granted such as the critical question of is diversity a cared for subject in the United States?” Intro :- The occasion that gives rise to David Brook's essay “People Like Us”, is diversity in America. In his essay , David plainly and purposely confronts his audience – which are most likely Americans- with the reality of diversity in The United States .
The Dust Bowl Of The 1930s By Scott Russell Sanders
946 Words | 4 PagesSanders makes the point that by pursuing this level of nationalism, one is treading down a dark path of racism and greed. Sanders goes on to say, “But who would pretend that a history of migration has immunized the United States against bigotry? And even if, by uprooting ourselves, we shed our chauvinism, is that all we lose?” (Sanders 40). Through this quote, Sanders proclaims how Americans abuse their multicultural descent to justify acts of racism and deceit.
The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman
1189 Words | 5 PagesThe term “melting pot” has been used since the early 1900s, and it means a place where people, ideas, theories, cultures, etc. are mixed together. Although this may seem like a harmless thing, the idea that one must give up part of their culture to obtain parts of a new one undermines the importance of cultures in one’s life. In chapter 14 “The Melting Pot” of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Anne Fadiman shows the challenges and hardships that Hmong immigrants faced when immigrating to America to show the power that an environment has on a person’s connection to their culture, and the impact that people have on the culture of the society they are entering Fadamin provides examples of the action of Americans towards to Hmong people
Eric Foner What Then Is The American Equality
843 Words | 4 PagesJohn de Crèvecœur who wrote a letter called “What, Then, Is the American?” He recounted his life in the United States through a very enthusiastic, promotional image of America. Crèvecœur had the same celebration mentality similar to other foreigners when the United States’ became an independent nation and therefore, a new society. New opportunities gave some individuals the ability to forge a new nationality from the diverse populations of Europe. He published an account of his life in the United States entitled Letters from an American Farmer where he outlined his life in both Europe and the United States.
Reinventing The Melting Pot The New Immigrants Analysis
1211 Words | 5 PagesImmigration has always been a part of American culture, in fact, it is the basis of how our country was formed. Immigration, both legal and illegal, has become a key focal point in today’s society. In a collection of essays titled “Reinventing the Melting Pot: The New Immigrant and What It Means to Be American,” Jamar Jacoby has a piece titled “The New Immigrants and the Issue of Assimilation” originally published in 2004. Jacoby creates an argument that although beneficial to our country, many immigrants are entering the United States where they are forced to spend their lives at the bottom of the economy, and where their assimilation feels forced. Jacoby’s purpose for writing this piece is to encourage readers that Americans are the problem
African American Immigrants 19th Century
102 Words | 1 PagesThe “discovery” by the United States that Europe had inferior and superior races was a result of the large amount of immigration from southern and eastern Europe in the late nineteenth century (Brodkin, 1994). Before this wave of immigration took place, European immigrants had been accepted into the white population. However, the European immigrants who came to the United States to work after 1880 were too numerous and too concentrated to scatter and blend in. Rather, they built working-class ethnic communities in the United States’ urban areas. Because of this, urban American began to take on a noticeably immigrant feel (Brodkin,
Immigration Reform Act Of 1965 Analysis
676 Words | 3 PagesFor generations, many Americans have seen their country as a haven for immigrants, a “melting pot,” of different cultures. These different cultures and traditions brought from countries across the world shaped the modern American identity, some would argue. While it is true many cultures from Europe, Africa, Latin America, etc. have contributed to molding the modern American society, immigration history is marred by resistance. Patterns in immigration throughout American history have created a culture de jour that is at the center for the most ardent opposition. From the Irish, to the Asians, and now Hispanics, it is easy to interchange the culture or race, while keeping the hysteria in any given decade from America’s past.
The Chinese Exclusion Act Of 1882
799 Words | 4 PagesThis slogan was not the only thing that people said to humiliate immigrants, American citizens had come up with names for different types of immigrants which further fueled the delirium in the country. Once laws were passed to restrict one group of immigrants, the American government immediately turned to the next group in hopes of “preserving their land.” Instead of realizing their mistakes, the government took this opportunity to enable restrictions on all immigrants. Mexicans becoming “illegal” in their own homeland, and other nationalities of Asian descent being treated horribly. However, not only immigrants were affected by the inequality America provided.
Summary Of Repressive Tolerance
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Inequality In The American Dream
1414 Words | 6 PagesThe United States of America, is known to be one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world. It has often been referred to by many as a global melting pot or as locals may say callaloo, due to the amassing of diverse ethnicities, cultures and nationalities. Within its borders, resides immigrants or descendants of immigrants from almost every region in the world, and each has in some way added to the American culture and way of life. America is known for its stance on freedom, it is a nation that values equality and justice, this can be noted in the last few words of their national anthem ‘indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ However, for many, high levels of economic and social inequalities are daily struggles, a battle that has been fought for decades to claim the most basic rights, in the pursuit of achieving the American Dream.
Summary Of Patrick Buchanan's Essay Deconstructing America
742 Words | 3 PagesEquality: The Rebirth of America In Patrick Buchanan’s essay “Deconstructing America” he mentions in regards of the creation of America, “But that republic and that empire did not rise because the settlers and those who followed believed in diversity, equality, and democracy, but because they rejected diversity, equality, and democracy. (Buchanan 597) Mr. Patrick Buchanan clarifies what the founding fathers of this nation were based, shaped, and modeled by rejecting any close contact with today’s melting pot model, which it led to an era of chaos when this sense of thoughts were implemented. Even though the melting pot model shows how cultural pluralism might create cultural separatism due to America losing its fundamental traditions and
Examples Of Critical Race Theory
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Analysis Of Anna Quindlen's A Quilt Of A Country
431 Words | 2 PagesWhat does it mean to be an American: The land of the free and the home of the brave? Due to the diversity that America offers, the people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, cultures, backgrounds and sexual orientation have an equal opportunity for a better life in America. In Anna Quindlen’s “A Quilt of a Country,” she explains how people view America. She writes that being an American is an idea that works despite that fact that it should not due to the diversity that exist in the country. Quindlen informs the reader that America was uniquely constructed on no precise culture or race.
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