| Most myths have some element of truth in them. | | | | the creation of an entirely new mode of life that |
| The 'melting pot' that media of all sorts (which | | | | would replace the ethnic backgrounds of those who |
| includes our propaganda in law and education) tell us | | | | were a part of the process. It contained some |
| became America, is another of the half-truths or | | | | imprecisions and inaccuracies that would, in time, |
| superficial observations which deserves a little study | | | | became {become?} a part of the lore or myth of |
| if we are to accept the deeper potential meaning in | | | | the vaunted melting pot and would grossly |
| it. John Hope Franklin of Duke University is a | | | | misrepresent the crucial factor of ethnicity in |
| respected Black scholar who says some powerful | | | | American life. It ignored the tenacity with which the |
| words after pointing out the kind of thing that media | | | | Pennsylvania Dutch held onto their language, religion, |
| managers or manipulators galore have said about the | | | | and way of life. It over-looked the way in which the |
| open-minded American with no reason to bring | | | | Swedes of New Jersey remained Swedes and the |
| prejudices to this new and exciting land of | | | | manner in which the French Huguenots of New York |
| opportunity. I would point out that it was not so new | | | | and Charleston held onto their own past as though it |
| and historians like himself have participated in a | | | | was the source of all light and life. It described a |
| cover-up but let us see what this man has to say | | | | process that in a distant day would gag at the notion |
| about the 'melting pot'. | | | | that Irish Catholics could be assimilated on the broad |
| People do not generally like to find out that they | | | | lap of Alma Mater or that Asians could be seated on |
| have 'bastards' in their family tree and the woodpiles | | | | the basis of equality at the table of the Great |
| of America created a lot of 'bastards'. My father | | | | American Feast." (8) |
| used to tell us about the Virginia legislature and | | | | Needless to say he also addresses the matter of |
| legislation proposed that would make anyone with | | | | black emancipation and those who were 'already in |
| any black blood not able to sit and participate in it. | | | | the country' though I do not think he was referring |
| This was the early 1950s not the 1850s. One | | | | to the blacks who were here long before Columbus. |
| legislator did the research that most Americans will | | | | In fact there was no race that had not been coming |
| not even do about their own family. He did not get | | | | to America since before the time of Christ. Genetics |
| more than half way through exposing every member | | | | is indeed a powerful tool used in court to free |
| of the legislature for their mulatto blood when the | | | | innocent victims of our justice system but so far our |
| others were all in an uproar and clamoring that he | | | | history is still allowing lies to victimize our cultural |
| must b silenced. | | | | perspectives or myths. It is important that we act as |
| "This was one of the earliest expressions of the | | | | if there is no race except the human race. |
| notion that the process of Americanization involved | | | | |