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