Identity, Community, and Pluralism in American Life

by Fischer, William; Gerber, David; Guitart, Jorge; Seller, Maxine

• ISBN13: 9780195094718
• ISBN10: 0195094719
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-01-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Identity, Community, and Pluralism in American Life is an anthology of primary source readings which explores the cultural diversity and social pluralism in American life. The principal themes include the formation of group and communal identities, the position of various groups in the American social structure, and the interrelationships of the people of the United States within the framework of a common public life. The readings are drawn from a variety of sources including fiction, poetry, journalism, biography, autobiography, and memoirs, as well as from academic disciplines. Each of the eleven chapters is preceded by a context-setting introduction, and each selection includes a brief introduction explaining its significance and its relationship to other selections. Intended for use as a core text for undergraduate courses that explore diversity and pluralism, this text provides the basis for a continuing dialogue and inquiry into American life.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Interpreting History and Experience

Metaphorizing American Culture Anglo-Conformity: Thomas Jefferson writes George Flower, 1817

Anglo-Conformity: The New York City public schools, 1906

The Melting Pot: Israel Zangwill coins a phrase, 1908

The Melting Pot: An eighteenth century interpretation, 1782

Cultural Pluralism: Randolph Bourne''s vision of America as a confederation of distinct peoples, 1916

Living with diversity: Our daily experiences, 1994

Introduction: The Presence of the Past

Voluntary immigrants

The quest for a better life: a Norwegian immigrant letter of 1838

Economic migrants from nineteenth century China: "A Chinaman''s Chance"

Would-ve voluntary immigrants: Chinese poets on Angel Island

Refugees

Oral history of Fannie Shamitz Friedman, "There Was Nothing to Come Home to"

From African to African American

Olaudah Equiano: "...the Manners and Customs of My Country...Had Been Implanted in Me with Great Care..."

Frederick Douglass: "I Do Not Recollect of Ever Seeing My Mother by the Light of Day"

Finding meaning in tradition: Red Jacket''s testimony

The conquered Mexicans of the Southwest: Letter from the Santa Fe Jail, Reies Lopez Tijerina Suggestions for further reading

Unit Two: Defining Self, Defining Others

Introduction: On Being Different and "Undifferent" in the United States

Harriet Jacobs: The Sexual and Moral Hazards of Growing Up a Female Slave

Ohiyesa: An Indian Brave Confronts Civilization

Helena Maria Viramontes: The Chicana Legacy

Lloyd Van Brund, The racial measure of the poor white''s failure

James Jaewhan Lee, "I am Learning how to Confront Elephants..."

Judy Scales-Trent, "On Being Black and White, Different and the Same"

Representations of Prejudice and Ethnocentricity

Inventing the Indian: The Account of Amerigo Vespucci

The English Construction of the New England Savage: Three Portrayals

History of Plymouth Plantation

New England''s First Fruits: "In Respect of the Indians, Etc."

From John Winthrop''s Journal

Prejudice Masked as Humor: Harriet Stowe Jumps Jim Crow

Thomas Dartmouth Rice, Jim Crow

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom''s Cabin

The Perpetuation of Racial Humor

From Twain''s Adventure''s of Huckelberry Finn

Kemble on Illustrating Huckleberry Finn

From E. W. Kemble''s A Coon Alphabet

The Deadly Effects of Discrimination

Communities In Historical Perspective

Communities in an Expanding Nation

The Nineteen Century

Community as Survival: Solidarity and Celebration in the Slave Quarters

"Yes, the love of God is best...", The Oneida Community

Education, Americanization, and Community: The Ethnic Press

Solidarity and Diversity in Women''s Communities

"Daughters of Freemen Still"

Millworkers Proclaim a Strike at Lowell, Massachusetts, 1834

"The Sound of Our Own Voices," A Women''s Study Club

"...to elevate our race": Report of the Phillis Wheatley Club

Suggestions for Further Reading

Continuity and Change: Communities in the Twentieth Century

The Labor Movement in the Progressive Era: Congressional Hearings on the Lawrence Textile Strike of 1912

Community Activisim After the Black Civil Rights Revolution

National Organization for Women: An Invitation to Join

A Chicano Feminist Manifesto

Black Pride and Disability Pride: "Malcolm Teaches Us, Too"

Communities in Conflict in South Central Los Angeles, 1991

Alice Choi on Korean -- Black Tensions

"...It''s a misunderstanding of one another": University of California Students

Discuss the Los Angeles Riot

"Sharing the Journey": The Small Group Movement

"Today''s Strength from Yesterday''s Traditions": Northern Arapaho Indian Women

Suggestions for Further Reading

Permission To Enter And The Right To Belong

Opening and Closing the Door: The Debate over Immigration

A Friend of Immigrants: At the Height of Nativism a Doctor Publishes a Lecture in Favor of Immigration

Raising Alarm: An Antiimmigration Politician Speaks at the Convention to Revise the Constitytion of Kentucky

Proimmigration Reform: The President of the United States Argues for the Elimination of National Origin Quotas, 1963

Doubts on Assimilation: A Conservative Deomgrapher Does not Think that Third World Immigrants Will Adapt to U.S. Culture, 1990

On Being an American in a Pluralistic Society: A Hispanic View, 1986

Suggestions for Further Reading

The State, Citizenship, and Naturalization

Deciding Membership in the American Political Community: The First National

Debate on Naturalization and Citizenship, 1790

Is It Too Easy to Become an American?, 1845

The Experience of Becoming a Citizen: New York City, 1900

Exclusion: Race and Powerlessness

Shared Political Values and Language Inform the Effort to Combat Exclusion: American Women, 1848

Excluding Asians, 1889

Suggestions for Further Reading

Enduring Conflicts

The Question of a National Language

They Should Speak English: Benjamin Franklin Complains About the Germans in Pennsylvania, 1753

Attempting to Establish English as the Official Language: Three Proposed

Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, 1981, 1983, 1989

Language and Equality in Education: The Supreme Court Lau Decisions, 1974

Speaking for English as the Official Language: A U.S. Senator Explains Why He Is Sponsoring an English Language Amendment to the Constitution, 1983

Against Official English: A U.S. Representative Explains Why There Should no Be an English Language Constitutional Amendment, 1988

They Are not Learning English: The Secretary of Education Attacks Bilingual Education, 1985

In Defense of Bilingual Education: A Response to Secretary Bennett''s Attack, 1985

Suggestions for Further Reading

Church, State, and Society

Separating Church and State: What Did the Founders Have in Mind?, 1784

A "Wall of Separation": Thomas Jefferson''s View, 1802

Is the United States a "Christian Nation?": Justice David Brewer''s View, 1892

Defining Boundaries for Church and State: School Prayer, 1962

Defining Boundaries for Church and State: Federal Aid to Church-affiliated Private Schools, 1971

An Outsider''s View of Christmas: "The Other Check,"

Suggestions for Further Reading

Individual Rights or Group Rights? The Question of Affirmative Action

Against Set-asides: A Group of Jewish and Other White Ethnic Organizations

Submit a Brief to the Supreme Court, 1977

"Affirmed in part and reversed in part": The Bakke Decision, 1978

Affirmative Action Is not Damaging to Blacks or Unconstitutional: A Legal Scholar Refutes Objections to Affirmative Action, 1986

Promoted Over a Male: The Diane Joyce Story, as Told by Susan Faludi, 1991

White Males as Victims: Casualities of Affirmative Action, 1991

Suggestions for Further Reading

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