IsraelZangwill,TheMeltingPot,1907.

IsraelZangwillsplayTheMeltingPotopenedin
Washington,D.C.on5October1908.SetinNewYorkin
theearly20thcentury,theplayisalooseadaptationof
ShakespearesRomeoandJuliet,chroniclinga
tumultuousloveaffairbetweentwoRussianimmigrants:
DavidQuixano,aJewishcomposer,andVeraRevendal,a
settlementhouseworkerandthedaughterofananti
SemiticRussianaristocrat.Theplayoffersagrandvision
ofAmericaasadynamicprocessofethnicandracial
amalgamation.Asthecurtaincamedownonopening
night,TheodoreRooseveltleanedoverhisboxand
shoutedtoZangwillandthecrowd,Thatsagreatplay,
Mr.Zangwill,thatsagreatplay.

DAVID:Oh,IlovegoingtoEllisIslandtowatchtheships
cominginfromEurope,andtothinkthatallthoseweary,
seatossedwanderersarefeelingwhatIfeltwhenAmerica
firststretchedouthergreatmotherhandtome!

VERA:[Softly]Wereyouveryhappy?

DAVID:Itwasheaven.YoumustrememberthatallmylifeI
hadheardofAmericaeverybodyinourtownhadfriends
thereorwasgoingthereorgotmoneyordersfromthere.
TheearliestgameIplayedatwassellingoffmytoyfurniture
andsettingupinAmerica.AllmylifeAmericawaswaiting,
beckoning,shiningtheplacewhereGodwouldwipeaway
tearsfromoffallfaces.[Heendsinahalfsob.]

MENDEL:Now,now,David,dontgetexcited.

DAVID:Tothinkthatthesamegreattorchoflibertywhich
threwitslightacrossallthebroadseasandlandsintomy
littlegarretinRussia,isshiningalsoforallthoseother
weepingmillionsofEurope,shiningwherevermenhunger
andareoppressed.

MENDEL[Soothingly]Yes,yes,David.Nowsitdownand

DAVID:[Unheeding]Shiningoverthestarvingvillagesof
ItalyandIreland,overtheswarmingstonycitiesofPoland
andGalicia,overtheruinedfarmsofRoumania,overthe
shamblesofRussiaOh,MissRevendal,whenIlookatour
StatueofLiberty,IjustseemtohearthevoiceofAmerica
crying:Comeuntomeallyethatlabourandareheavy
ladenandIwillgiveyourest

MENDEL:Donttalkanymoreyouknowitisbadforyou.

DAVID:ButMissRevendalaskedandIwanttoexplainto
herwhatAmericameanstome.

MENDEL:YoucanexplainitinyourAmericansymphony.

VERA:[Eagerly,toDAVID]Youcompose?

DAVID:[Embarrassed]Oh,uncle,whydidyoutalkof?
Unclealwaysmymusicissothinandtinkling.WhenIam
writingmyAmericansymphony,itseemslikethunder
crashingthoughaforestfullofbirdsongs.Butnextday
oh,nextday![Helaughsdolefullyandturnsaway.]

VERA:SoyourmusicfindsinspirationinAmerica?

DAVID:YesintheseethingoftheCrucible.

VERA:TheCrucible?Idontunderstand!

DAVID:Notunderstand!You,theSpiritoftheSettlement!
[Herisesandcrossestoherandleansoverthetable,facing
her.]NotunderstandthatAmericaisGodsCrucible,the
greatMeltingPotwherealltheracesofEuropearemelting
andreforming!Hereyoustand,goodfolk,thinkI,whenI
seethematEllisIsland,hereyoustand[Graphically
illustratingitonthetable]inyourfiftygroups,withyour
fiftylanguagesandhistories,andyourfiftybloodhatreds
andrivalries.Butyouwontbelonglikethat,brothers,for
thesearethefiresofGodyouvecometothesearethefires
ofGod.Afigforyourfeudsandvendettas!Germansand
Frenchmen,IrishmenandEnglishmen,JewsandRussians
intotheCruciblewithyouall!GodismakingtheAmerican!

MENDEL:IshouldhavethoughttheAmericanwasmade
alreadyeightymillionsofhim.

DAVID:Eightymillions![HesmilestowardVERAingood
humoredderision.]Eightymillions!Overacontinent!Why,
thatcockleshellofaBritainhasfortymillions!No,uncle,the
realAmericanhasnotyetarrived.HeisonlyintheCrucible,
Itellyouhewillbethefusionofallraces,perhapsthe
comingsuperman.Ah,whatagloriousFinaleformy
symphonyifIcanonlywriteit.

MadisonGrant,
ThePassingoftheGreatRace,1916.

ThePassingofTheGreatRacewasaninfluentialworkof
scientificracismwrittenbytheAmericaneugenicist,
lawyer,andamateuranthropologistMadisonGrant.

Wemust,firstofall,realizethatracepureandsimple,
thephysicalandpsychicalstructureofman,issomething
entirelydistinctfromeithernationalityorlanguage,andthat
raceliestodayatthebaseofallthephenomenaofmodern
society,justasithasdonethroughouttheunrecordedeons
ofthepast.Thegreatlessonofthescienceofraceisthe
immutabilityofsomatologicalorbodilycharacters,with
whichiscloselyassociatedtheimmutabilityofpsychical
predispositionsandimpulses.
Thereexiststodayawidespreadandfatuousbeliefin
thepowerofenvironment,aswellasofeducationand
opportunitytoalterheredity,whicharisesfromthedogma
ofthebrotherhoodofman,derivedinturnfromtheloose
thinkersoftheFrenchRevolutionandtheirAmerican
mimics.Suchbeliefshavedonemuchdamageinthepast,
andifallowedtogouncontradicted,maydomuchmore
seriousdamageinthefuture.Thustheviewthatthenegro
slavewasanunfortunatecousinofthewhiteman,deeply
tannedbythetropicsun,anddeniedtheblessingsof
Christianityandcivilization,playednosmallpartwiththe
sentimentalistsoftheCivilWarperiod,andithastakenus
fiftyyearstolearnthatspeakingEnglish,wearinggood
clothes,andgoingtoschoolandtochurch,doesnot
transformanegrointoawhiteman.NorwasaSyrianor

EgyptianfreedmantransformedintoaRomanbywearinga
toga,andapplaudinghisfavoritegladiatorinthe
amphitheatre.Weshallhaveasimilarexperiencewiththe
PolishJew,whosedwarfstature,peculiarmentality,and
ruthlessconcentrationonselfinterestarebeingengrafted
uponthestockofthenation.
WhattheMeltingPotactuallydoesinpractice,canbe
seeninMexico,wheretheabsorptionofthebloodofthe
originalSpanishconquerorsbythenativeIndianpopulation
hasproducedtheracialmixturewhichwecallMexican,and
whichisnowengagedindemonstratingitsincapacityfor
selfgovernment.Whetherweliketoadmititornot,the
resultofthemixtureoftworaces,inthelongrun,givesusa
racerevertingtothemoreancient,generalizedandlower
type.ThecrossbetweenawhitemanandanIndianisan
Indian;thecrossbetweenawhitemanandanegroisa
negro;thecrossbetweenawhitemanandaHinduisa
Hindu;andthecrossbetweenanyofthethreeEuropean
racesandaJewisaJew.

Womeninallhumanraces,asthefemalesamongall
mammals,tendtoexhibittheolder,moregeneralizedand
primitivetraitsoftheracespast.Themaleinhisindividual
developmentindicatesthedirectioninwhichtheraceis
tendingundertheinfluenceofvariationandselection.Itis
interestingtonoteinconnectionwiththemoreprimitive
physiqueofthefemale,thatinthespiritualspherealso,
womenretaintheancientandintuitiveknowledgethatthe
greatmassofmankindisnotfreeandequal,butbondand
unequal.

InUpperCanada,asintheUnitedStatesuptothetime
ofourCivilWar,thewhitepopulationwaspurelyNordic.
[Canada]is,ofcourse,handicappedbythepresenceofan
indigestiblemassofFrenchCanadians...TheseFrenchmen
weregrantedfreedomoflanguageandreligionbytheir
conquerors,andarenowusingtheseprivilegestoform
separatistgroupsinantagonismtotheEnglishpopulation.
TheQuebecFrenchmenwillsucceedinseriouslyimpeding
theprogressofCanadaandwillsucceedevenbetterin
keepingthemselvesapoorandignorantcommunityoflittle
moreimportancetotheworldatlargethanarethenegroes
intheSouth.Personallythewriterbelievesthatthefinest
andpuresttypeofaNordiccommunityoutsideofEurope
willdevelopinnorthwestCanada.Mostoftheother
countriesinwhichtheNordicraceisnowsettlinglieoutside
ofthespecialenvironmentinwhichaloneitcanflourish.
Theprosperitythatfollowedthewarattractedhordesof
newcomerswhowerewelcomedbythenativeAmericansto
operatefactories,buildrailroads,andfillupthewaste
spacesdevelopingthecountry,itwascalled.The
transportationlinesadvertisedAmericaasalandflowing
withmilkandhoney,andtheEuropeangovernmentstook
theopportunitytounloaduponcareless,wealthy,and
hospitableAmericathesweepingsoftheirjailsandasylums.
Theresultwasthatthenewimmigration,whileitstill
includedmanystrongelementsfromthenorthofEurope,
containedalargeandincreasingnumberoftheweak,the
broken,andthementallycrippledofallracesdrawnfrom
theloweststratumoftheMediterraneanbasinandthe
Balkans,togetherwithhordesofthewretched,submerged
populationsofthePolishGhettos.

Withapatheticandfatuousbeliefintheefficacyof
Americaninstitutionsandenvironmenttoreverseor
obliterateimmemorialhereditarytendencies,these
newcomerswerewelcomedandgivenashareinourland
andprosperity.TheAmericantaxedhimselftosanitateand
educatethesepoorhelots,andassoonastheycouldspeak
English,encouragedthemtoenterintothepoliticallife,first
ofmunicipalities,andthenofthenation.
Theresultisshowingplainlyintherapiddeclineinthe
birthrateofnativeAmericansbecausethepoorerclassesof
Colonialstock,wheretheystillexist,willnotbringchildren
intotheworldtocompeteinthelabormarketwiththe
Slovak,theItalian,theSyrian,andtheJew.Thenative
Americanistooproudtomixsociallywiththem,andis
graduallywithdrawingfromthescene,abandoningtothese
aliensthelandwhichheconqueredanddeveloped.Theman
oftheoldstockisbeingcrowdedoutofmanycountry
districtsbytheseforeigners,justasheistodaybeing
literallydrivenoffthestreetsofNewYorkCitybythe
swarmsofPolishJews.Theseimmigrantsadoptthe
languageofthenativeAmerican;theywearhisclothes;they
stealhisname;andtheyarebeginningtotakehiswomen,
buttheyseldomadopthisreligionorunderstandhisideals,
andwhileheisbeingelbowedoutofhisownhomethe
Americanlookscalmlyabroadandurgesonothersthe
suicidalethicswhichareexterminatinghisownrace.
Thesurvivalofthefittestmeansthesurvivalofthe
typebestadaptedtoexistingconditionsofenvironment.
TodaythismeansthetenementandfactoryFromthe
pointofviewofrace,itwerebetterdescribedasthe
survivaloftheunfit.

TheodoreRoosevelt,
HyphenatedAmericans,1915.

Today,Americanswhoarehostiletoimmigrationor
suspiciousofnewarrivalsoftenquoteRoosevelts
negativecommentsabouthyphenatedAmericans.But
peoplequotingthisspeechrarelynotewhenitwas
givenin1915,whenthecountrywastryingnottobe
draggedintothewarinEuropenordotheyquotethe
secondhalfofthespeech,callingfortheeliminationof
raceandreligiousprejudice.Thiswasactually
consideredaproimmigrationspeechin1915,and
Rooseveltwasseenasafriendtoimmigrantsinhisday.

Thereisnoroominthiscountryforhyphenated
Americanism.WhenIrefertohyphenatedAmericans,Ido
notrefertonaturalizedAmericans.Someoftheverybest
AmericansIhaveeverknownwerenaturalizedAmericans,
Americansbornabroad.ButahyphenatedAmericanisnot
anAmericanatall.Thisisjustastrueofthemanwhoputs
nativebeforethehyphenasofthemanwhoputsGerman
orIrishorEnglishorFrenchbeforethehyphen.
Americanismisamatterofthespiritandofthesoul.Our
allegiancemustbepurelytotheUnitedStates.Wemust
unsparinglycondemnanymanwhoholdsanyother
allegiance.Butifheisheartilyandsinglyloyaltothis
Republic,thennomatterwherehewasborn,heisjustas
goodanAmericanasanyoneelse.
Theoneabsolutelycertainwayofbringingthisnationto
ruin,ofpreventingallpossibilityofitscontinuingtobea
nationatall,wouldbetopermitittobecomeatangleof
squabblingnationalities,anintricateknotofGerman
Americans,IrishAmericans,EnglishAmericans,French
Americans,ScandinavianAmericansorItalianAmericans,
eachpreservingitsseparatenationality,eachatheartfeeling
moresympathywithEuropeansofthatnationality,than
withtheothercitizensoftheAmericanRepublic.Themen
whodonotbecomeAmericansandnothingelseare
hyphenatedAmericans;andthereoughttobenoroomfor
theminthiscountry.Themanwhocallshimselfan
Americancitizenandwhoyetshowsbyhisactionsthatheis
primarilythecitizenofaforeignland,playsathoroughly
mischievouspartinthelifeofourbodypolitic.Hehasno
placehere;andthesoonerhereturnstothelandtowhichhe
feelshisrealheartallegiance,thebetteritwillbeforevery

goodAmerican.Thereisnosuchthingasahyphenated
AmericanwhoisagoodAmerican.Theonlymanwhoisa
goodAmericanisthemanwhoisanAmericanandnothing
else.

Americanization
Theforeignbornpopulationofthiscountrymustbean
Americanizedpopulationnootherkindcanfightthe
battlesofAmericaeitherinwarorpeace.Itmusttalkthe
languageofitsnativebornfellowcitizens,itmustpossess
AmericancitizenshipandAmericanideals.Itmuststand
firmbyitsoathofallegianceinwordanddeedandmust
showthatinveryfactithasrenouncedallegiancetoevery
prince,potentate,orforeigngovernment.Itmustbe
maintainedonanAmericanstandardoflivingsoasto
preventlabordisturbancesinimportantplantsandatcritical
times.Noneoftheseobjectscanbesecuredaslongaswe
haveimmigrantcolonies,ghettos,andimmigrantsections,
andabovealltheycannotbeassuredsolongasweconsider
theimmigrantonlyasanindustrialasset.Theimmigrant
mustnotbeallowedtodriftortobeputatthemercyofthe
exploiter.Ourobjectistonottoimitateoneoftheolder
racialtypes,buttomaintainanewAmericantypeandthen
tosecureloyaltytothistype.Wecannotsecuresuchloyalty
unlesswemakethisacountrywheremenshallfeelthatthey
havejusticeandalsowheretheyshallfeelthattheyare
requiredtoperformthedutiesimposeduponthem.The
policyofLetalonewhichwehavehithertopursuedis
thoroughlyviciousfromtwostandpoints.Bythispolicywe
havepermittedtheimmigrants,andtoooftenthenative
bornlaborersaswell,tosufferinjustice.Moreover,bythis

policywehavefailedtoimpressupontheimmigrantand
uponthenativebornaswellthattheyareexpectedtodo
justiceaswellastoreceivejustice,thattheyareexpectedto
beheartilyandactivelyandsinglemindedlyloyaltotheflag
nolessthantobenefitbylivingunderit.
Wecannotaffordtocontinuetousehundredsof
thousandsofimmigrantsmerelyasindustrialassetswhile
theyremainsocialoutcastsandmenacesanymorethanfifty
yearsagowecouldaffordtokeeptheblackmanmerelyas
anindustrialassetandnotasahumanbeing.Wecannot
affordtobuildabigindustrialplantandherdmenand
womenaboutitwithoutcarefortheirwelfare.Wecannot
affordtopermitsqualidovercrowdingorthekindofliving
systemwhichmakesimpossiblethedecenciesand
necessitiesoflife.Wecannotaffordthelowwageratesand
themerelyseasonalindustrieswhichmeanthesacrificeof
bothindividualandfamilylifeandmoralstotheindustrial
machinery.WecannotaffordtoleaveAmericanmines,
munitionsplants,andgeneralresourcesinthehandsofalien
workmen,alientoAmericaandevenlikelytobemade
hostiletoAmericabymachinationssuchashaverecently
beenprovidedinthecaseofthetwoforeignembassiesin
Washington.Wecannotaffordtoruntheriskofhavingin
timeofwarmenworkingonourrailwaysorworkinginour
munitionplantswhowouldinthenameofdutytotheir
ownforeigncountriesbringdestructiontous.Recentevents
haveshownusthatincitementstosabotageandstrikesare
intheviewofatleasttwoofthegreatforeignpowersof
Europewithintheirdefinitionofneutralpractices.What
wouldbedonetousinthenameofwarifthesethingsare
donetousinthenameofneutrality?

OneAmerica
Allofus,nomatterfromwhatlandourparentscame,
nomatterinwhatwaywemayseverallyworshipour
Creator,muststandshouldertoshoulderinaunited
Americafortheeliminationofraceandreligiousprejudice.
Wemuststandforareignofequaljusticetobothbigand
small.WemustinsistonthemaintenanceoftheAmerican
standardofliving.Wemuststandforanadequatenational
controlwhichshallsecureabettertrainingofouryoung
menintimeofpeace,bothfortheworkofpeaceandforthe
workofwar.Wemustdirecteverynationalresource,
materialandspiritual,tothetasknotofshirkingdifficulties,
butoftrainingourpeopletoovercomedifficulties.Ouraim
mustbe,nottomakelifeeasyandsoft,nottosoftensoul
andbody,buttofitusinvirilefashiontodoagreatworkfor
allmankind.Thisgreatworkcanonlybedonebyamighty
democracy,withthesequalitiesofsoul,guidedbythose
qualitiesofmind,whichwillbothmakeitrefusetodo
injusticetoanyothernation,andalsoenableittoholdits
ownagainstaggressionbyanyothernation.Inourrelations
withtheoutsideworld,wemustabhorwrongdoing,and
disdaintocommitit,andwemustnolessdisdainthe
basenessofspiritwhichlamelysubmitstowrongdoing.
Finallyandmostimportantofall,wemuststriveforthe
establishmentwithinourownbordersofthatsternandlofty
standardofpersonalandpublicneutralitywhichshall
guaranteetoeachmanhisrights,andwhichshallinsistin
returnuponthefullperformancebyeachmanofhisduties
bothtohisneighborandtothegreatnationwhoseflagmust
symbolizeinthefutureasithassymbolizedinthepastthe
highesthopesofallmankind.

RandolphBourne,
TransNationalAmerica,1916.

RandolphBournewasaprogressivewriterandpublic
intellectualwhoopposedthemeltingpotideal.Healso
opposedAmericanparticipationintheFirstWorldWar.
Thisessaywasanimportantearlystatementoftheideal
wenowcallmulticulturalism.

NoreverberatoryeffectoftheGreatWarhascaused
Americanpublicopinionmoresolicitudethanthefailureof
themeltingpot.Thediscoveryofdiversenationalistic
feelingsamongourgreatalienpopulationhiscometomost
peopleasanintenseshock.Ithasbroughtouttheunpleasant
inconsistenciesofourtraditionalbeliefs.Wehavehadto
watchhardheartedoldBrahminsvirtuouslyindignantat
thespectacleoftheimmigrantrefusingtobemelted,while
theyjeeratpatriotslikeMaryAntinwhowriteaboutour
forefathers.Wehavehadtolistentopublicistswho
expressthemselvesasstunnedbytheevidenceofvigorous
traditionalisticandculturalmovementsinthiscountry
amongGermans,Scandinavians,BohemiansandPoles,
whileinthesamebreaththeyinsistthatthealienshallbe
forciblyassimilatedtothatAngloSaxontraditionwhich
theyunquestionablylabelAmerican.
Astheunpleasanttruthhascomeuponusthat
assimilationinthiscountrywasproceedingonlinesvery
differentfromthosewehadmarkedoutforit,wefound
ourselvesinclinedtoblamethosewhowerethwartingour
prophecies.Thetruthbecameculpable.Weblamedthewar,
weblamedtheGermans.Andthenwediscoveredwitha

moralshockthatthesemovementshadbeenmakinggreat
headwayevenbeforethewarevenbegan.Wefoundthatthe
tendency,reprehensibleandparadoxicalasitmightbe,has
beenforthenationalclustersofimmigrants,astheybecame
moreandmorefirmlyestablishedandmoreandmore
prosperous,tocultivatemoreandmoreassiduouslythe
literaturesandculturaltraditionsoftheirhomelands.
Assimilation,inotherwords,insteadofwashingoutthe
memoriesofEurope,madethemmoreandmoreintensely
real.Justastheseclustersbecamemoreandmoreobjectively
American,didtheybecomemoreandmoreGermanor
ScandinavianorBohemianorPolish.
Tofacethefactthatouraliensarealreadystrongenough
totakeashareinthedirectionoftheirowndestiny,andthat
thestrongculturalmovementsrepresentedbytheforeign
press,schools,andcoloniesareachallengetoourfacile
attempts,isnot,however,toadmitthefailureof
Americanization.Itisnottofearthefailureofdemocracy.It
israthertourgeustoaninvestigationofwhatAmericanism
mayrightlymean.

Weareallforeignbornorthedescendantsofforeign
born,andifdistinctionsaretobemadebetweenusthey
shouldrightlybeonsomeothergroundthan
indigenousness.Theearlycolonistscameoverwithmotives
nolesscolonialthanthelater.Theydidnotcometobe
assimilatedinanAmericanmeltingpot.Theydidnotcome
toadoptthecultureoftheAmericanIndian.Theyhadnot
thesmallestintentionofgivingthemselveswithout
reservationtothenewcountry.Theycametogetfreedom
toliveastheywanted.Theycametoescapefromthestifling

airandchaosoftheoldworld;theycametomaketheir
fortuneinanewland.
Theforeigncultureshavenotbeenmelteddownorrun
together,madeintosomehomogeneousAmericanism,but
haveremaineddistinctbutcooperatingtothegreaterglory
andbenefit,notonlyofthemselvesbutofallthenative
Americanismaroundthem.
Whatweemphaticallydonotwantisthatthese
distinctivequalitiesshouldbewashedoutintoatasteless,
colorlessfluidofuniformity.Alreadywehavefartoomuch
ofthisinsipidity,massesofpeoplewhoareculturalhalf
breeds,neitherassimilatedAngloSaxonsnornationalsof
anotherculture.Ourcitiesarefilledwiththesehalf
breedswhoretaintheirforeignnamesbuthavelostthe
foreignsavor.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheyhaveactually
beenchangedintoNewEnglandersorMiddleWesterners.It
doesnotmeanthattheyhavebeenreallyAmericanized.It
meansthat,lettingslipfromthemwhatevernativeculture
theyhad,theyhavesubstitutedforitonlythemost
rudimentaryAmericantheAmericancultureofthecheap
newspaper,themovies,thepopularsong,theubiquitous
automobile.Theunthinkingwhosurveythisclasscallthem
assimilated,Americanized.ThegreatAmericanpublic
schoolhasdoneitswork.Withthesepeopleourinstitutions
aresafe.Wemaythrillwithdreadattheaggressive
hyphenate,butthistameflabbinessisacceptedas
Americanization.

Thewarhasshownusthatnotinanymagicalformula
willthispurposebefound.Nointensenationalismofthe
Europeanplancanbeours.Butdowenotbegintoseeanew

andmoreadventurousideal?Dowenotseehowthe
nationalcoloniesinAmerica,derivingpowerfromthedeep
culturalheartofEuropeandyetlivinghereinmutual
toleration,freedfromtheagelongtanglesofraces,creeds,
anddynasties,mayworkoutafederatedideal?Americais
transplantedEurope,butaEuropethathasnotbeen
disintegratedandscatteredinthetransplantingasinsome
Dispersion.Itscolonieslivehereinextricablymingled,yet
nothomogeneous.Theymergebuttheydonotfuse.
Americaisauniquesociologicalfabric,anditbespeaks
povertyofimaginationnottobethrilledattheincalculable
potentialitiesofsonovelaunionofmen.Toseeknoother
goalthanthewearyoldnationalism,belligerent,exclusive,
inbreeding,thepoisonofwhichwearewitnessingnowin
Europe,istomakepatriotismahollowsham,andtodeclare
that,inspiteofourboastings,Americamusteverbea
followerandnotaleaderofnations.
Ifwecometofindthispointofviewplausible,weshall
havetogiveupthesearchforournativeAmerican
culture.WiththeexceptionoftheSouthandthatNew
Englandwhich,liketheRedIndian,seemstobepassinginto
solemnoblivion,thereisnodistinctivelyAmericanculture.
Itisapparentlyourlotrathertobeafederationofcultures.
Thiswehavebeenforhalfacentury,andthewarhasmade
itevermoreevidentthatthisiswhatwearedestinedto
remain.

Thefailureofthemeltingpot,farfromclosingthegreat
Americandemocraticexperiment,meansthatithasonlyjust
begun.WhateverAmericannationalismturnsouttobe,we
seealreadythatitwillhavecolorricherandmoreexciting

thanouridealhashithertoencompassed.Inaworldwhich
hasdreamedofinternationalism,wefindthatwehaveall
unawaresbeenbuildingupthefirstinternationalnation.The
voiceswhichhavecriedforatightandjealousnationalism
oftheEuropeanpatternarefailing.Fromthatideal,however
valiantlyanddisinterestedlyithasbeensetforus,timeand
tendencyhavemovedusfurtherandfurtheraway.Whatwe
haveachievedhasbeenratheracosmopolitanfederationof
nationalcolonies,offoreigncultures,fromwhomthesting
ofdevastatingcompetitionhasbeenremoved.Americais
alreadytheworldfederationinminiature,thecontinent
whereforthefirsttimeinhistoryhasbeenachievedthat
miracleofhope,thepeacefullivingsidebyside,with
charactersubstantiallypreserved,ofthemostheterogeneous
peoplesunderthesun.

LetusfacerealisticallytheAmericawehavearoundus.
Letusworkwiththeforcesthatareatwork.Letusmake
somethingofthistransnationalspiritinsteadofoutlawing
it.AlreadywearelivingthiscosmopolitanAmerica.What
weneediseverywhereavividconsciousnessofthenew
ideal.Deliberateheadwaymustbemadeagainstthe
survivalsofthemeltingpotidealforthepromiseof
Americanlife.

W.E.B.DuBois,TheSoulsofWhiteFolk,1910.

WilliamEdwardBurghardtDuBoiswasanAmericancivil
rightsactivist,historian,andauthor.DuBoisfamously
opposedBookerT.Washingtonsstrategyof
accommodatingJimCrowseparation,callinginsteadfor
increasedmilitancy,andtheformationofablackelite
thatwouldworkfortheprogressofAfricanAmericans.
DuBoisbecametheheadoftheNationalAssociationfor
theAdvancementofColoredPeople(NAACP)in1910.His
1903book,TheSoulsofBlackFolkisaperhapsthe
classicworkonbeingblackinAmericansociety.Thisless
wellknownessay(onlyabriefexcerptisgivenhere)
stressesthenewnessofwhiteidentity.

Highinthetower,whereIsitabovetheloud
complainingofthehumansea,Iknowmanysoulsthattoss
andwhirlandpass,butnonetherearethatintriguememore
thantheSoulsofWhiteFolk.
Thediscoveryofpersonalwhitenessamongtheworlds
peoplesisaverymodernthing,anineteenthandtwentieth
centurymatter,indeed.Theancientworldwouldhave
laughedatsuchadistinction.TheMiddleAgeregardedskin
colorwithmildcuriosity;andevenupintotheeighteenth
centurywewerehammeringournationalmanikinsintoone,
great,UniversalMan,withfinefrenzywhichignoredcolor
andraceevenmorethanbirth.Todaywehavechangedall
that,andtheworldinasudden,emotionalconversionhas
discoveredthatitiswhiteandbythattoken,wonderful!
Nowwhatistheeffectonamanoranationwhenit
comespassionatelytobelievesuchanextraordinarydictum
asthis?Thatnationsarecomingtobelieveitismanifest

daily.Waveonwave,eachwithincreasingvirulence,is
dashingthisnewreligionofwhitenessontheshoresofour
time.Itsfirsteffectsarefunny:thestrutoftheSoutherner,
thearroganceoftheEnglishmanamuck,thewhoopofthe
hoodlumwhovicariouslyleadsyourmob.Nextitappears
dampeninggenerousenthusiasminwhatweoncecounted
glorious;tofreetheslaveisdiscoveredtobetolerableonly
insofarasitfreedhismaster!Dowesensesomnolent
writhingsinblackAfricaorangrygroansinIndiaor
triumphantbanzaisinJapan?Thesenationsarenotwhite!
Afterthemorecomicmanifestationsandthechillingof
generousenthusiasmcomesubtler,darkerdeeds.Hereit
isthatthecomedyvergestotragedy.Thefirstminornoteis
struck,allunconsciously,bythoseworthysoulsinwhom
consciousnessofhighdescentbringsburningdesireto
spreadthegiftabroad,theobligationofnobilitytothe
ignoble.Suchsenseofdutyassumestwothings:areal
possessionoftheheritageanditsfrankappreciationbythe
humbleborn.Solong,then,ashumbleblackfolk,voluble
withthanks,receivebarrelsofoldclothesfromlordlyand
generouswhites,thereismuchmentalpeaceandmoral
satisfaction.Butwhentheblackmanbeginstodisputethe
whitemanstitletocertainallegedbequestsoftheFathersin
wageandposition,authorityandtraining;andwhenhis
attitudetowardcharityissullenangerratherthanhumble
jollity;whenheinsistsonhishumanrighttoswaggerand
swearandwaste,thenthespellissuddenlybrokenandthe
philanthropistisreadytobelievethatNegroesare
impudent,thattheSouthisright,andthatJapanwantsto
fightAmerica.
Afterthis,thedescenttoHelliseasy.