THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

The United States Melting Pot At a Melting or Boiling Point?

EDUC 5303 Cultural Foundations Section KS56
Dr. Samuel Maldonado
October 17, 2015
Carolyn Elizabeth Barrette

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Pedestal inscription, Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor
Excerpted from The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus (18491887)
Melting point is defined for a substance as the temperature at which its solid and liquid
phases can exist in equilibrium. It is at this temperature that a solid will start melting to
become a liquid. At this temperature, the molecules forming the substance are gaining
enough kinetic energy to overcome the intermolecular forces which hold them in fixed
positions and they gain the ability to move around. Boiling point can be defined for a
liquid as the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to external pressure. At this
temperaturethe boiling point is highly dependent on external pressure. At the melting
point, a solid becomes a liquid. At the boiling point, a liquid becomes a gas. Melting point
does not change with changes in the external pressure. Boiling point changes with
changes in the external pressure.
Nipun1

The United States Melting Pot At a Melting or Boiling Point?

The early twentieth century saw the zenith of the largest immigrant influx into the United
States since the nations birth. Emma Lazarus poetic greeting welcomed approximately
18 million new citizens between 1890 and 1920; among them was a Briton, Israel
Zangwill, whose 1908 stage play entitled, The Melting Pot gave lasting cachet to the
term melting pot. As William Booth2 of The Washington Post reported in 1998, the
productions story line has long been forgotten[yet] its message still holds a
tremendous power on the national imagination the promise that all immigrants can be
transformed into Americans, a new alloy forged in a crucible of democracy, freedom and
civic responsibility (Booth, 1998a). The country seemed proud to offer refuge for those
seeking freedom from oppression and an equal opportunity to achieve the life, liberty and
pursuit of happiness touted by the 1776 Declaration of Independence.
1 http://pediaa.com/difference-between-boiling-point-and-melting-point/
2 Unexpected factoid: I attended both high school and The University of Texas at Austin with this
author and was unaware of his whereabouts and accomplishments until conducting this papers
research. He is currently serves as Bureau Chief for The Washington Posts Jerusalem office. I
am grateful this paper has facilitated my re-making his acquaintance.

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

Booth further observed, the country [is currently experiencing] one of the most massive
immigrations in modern history (Booth, 1998b) and demographic projections estimate both
population swells and profound shifts in the existing dominant and non-dominant cultural
profile.3 The Appendix The immigrant ideal and its accompanying reality continue to
diverge, often sharply. At the close of the twentieth century, Booth noted, It is clear that not
all of America is experiencing the impact of immigration equally and observed that the
dramatic demographic shifts severely test the premise of the fabled melting pot, so central to
national identity, [that holds] this country can transform people of every color and background
into one America (Booth, 1998a). It begs the question of whether or not achieving such
parity is a goal worth pursuing. Is our nation best served if we attempt to adjust and mold all
citizens to fit a common profile? The independent (often desperate) attitudes of those braving
immigration understandably resist imposition of such a metamorphosis; indeed, current
research confirms there are numerous negative consequences in doing so.
Certainly one of the primary arenas for educating and shaping non-dominant cultures is within
the nations school systems. Dr. Joel H. Spring notes there has been a call for international
recognition of language and cultural rights (Spring, 2014, p. 181) and outlines seven global
responses to (i.e., options for) schooling minority cultures and languages. Certain responses
suppress a students minority culture and language; others embrace it. Though it has its
detractors and drawbacks4, the cosmopolitanism approach most closely meets the objectives of
a truly multicultural education and is the approach I endeavor to use in my classrooms. This
3 Included in the appendix is supporting documentation of national, state, local and even
archdiocesan statistics reflecting population/demographic trend forecasts. Fair Use statement
included therein.
4 Discussing criticisms of cosmopolitanism in detail is beyond the scope of this paper; for
further information, the reader may wish to read Dr. Marianna Papastephanous article,
Cosmopolitanism discarded: Martha Nussbaums patriotic education and the inward-outward
distinction (noted on the References page).

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

approachs key elements include holding an [a]llegiance to humanity and not a particular
nation, and being educated a) for global citizenship; b) to be able to move easily among the
worlds peoples; and c) to understand differences between the worlds languages and cultures
(Spring, 2014, p. 184). My clearest opportunities to use these in tutoring environments are
two-fold: 1) as I work with LD students, I will continue to seek culture-specific, individualized
examples tailored to resonate more clearly with that students background and learning
challenges; 2) particularly in the areas of theology, the social sciences, and ethics-based
courses, I will, to the best of my ability, convey to the student (in words and actions) the
unqualified acceptance I hold for their origins, customs, language, and beliefs. Dr. Rebecca
Adami of Columbia University underscored the importance of such an approach:
Recent trends in research on the internationalization process in higher
education points to the importance of teacher education to meet ethical
challenges posed by an increased awareness of our dependence in the world.
Acquiring cosmopolitan ethical skills in teacher educationtransforms
teachers attitudes and beliefs (Adami, 2014, p. 29).
Adami concludes there is a need for policy research that examines the role of human
rights in globalizing higher education (Adami, 2014, p. 36).5 Spring summarizes,
[w]hatever the conclusion of this conflict, American public schools will never be the same
after the impact of cultural and language demands of dominated groups and after the
adjustment of educational programs to meet the needs of the new immigrants (Spring,
2014, p. 186). Phase changes are taking place, without question. For those (like myself)
who occasionally tutor chemistry, the parallels between societal and chemical phase
changes (including melting and boiling (over)) are appealing. Chemical melting is the result
of developing enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces which hold
[molecules] in fixed positions[giving them]the ability to move around (Nipun). They
5 A worthwhile discussion of options for nurturing global citizens in local classrooms can be
found in Dr. Dr. Erik Jon Bykers article, Critical cosmopolitanism: Engaging students in global
citizenship competencies (noted on the References page).

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

become fluid. Successful societal melting involves creating and using energy and
resources to overcome the factors holding us in static positions, allowing the freedom to
move forward with greater fluidity -- and less conflict -- more resilient to future external
pressures.

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

References
Adami, R. (2014). Toward cosmopolitan ethics in teacher education: An ontological
dimension of learning human rights. Ethics and Education, 9(1), 29-38.
doi:10.1080/17449642.2014.890272
Booth, W. (1998, February 22). One nation, indivisible: Is it history?; The Washington
Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/national/longterm/meltingpot/melt0222.htm
Booth, W. (1998, July 13). Sweat of their brows reshapes economy. The Washington Post.
Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/national/longterm/meltingpot/melt4.htm
Byker, E. J. (Fall/Winter 2013). Critical cosmopolitanism: Engaging students in global
citizenship competencies. English in Texas, 43(2), 18-22.
Fostering a spirituality of communion: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston pastoral plan
(pp. 2-16, Rep.). (2011). Houston, TX: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Houston-Galveston Area Council: Regional growth forecast 2015 Q2. (2015, October
01). Retrieved October 16, 2015, from http://www.hgac.com/community/socioeconomic/2040-regional-growth-forecast/
Lazarus, E., & Hollander, J. (2005). Selected poems: The new colosssus. New York, NY:
Library of America.
Nipun. (2015, August 31). Difference between boiling point and melting point. Retrieved
from http://pediaa.com/difference-between-boiling-point-and-melting-point/
Papastephanou, M. (2013). Cosmopolitanism discarded: Martha Nussbaum's patriotic
education and the inwardoutward distinction. Ethics and Education, 8(2), 166178. doi:10.1080/17449642.2013.846057
Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. (2008, February 11). U.S. population projections: 20052050
(Rep.). Retrieved October 15, 2015, from Pew Research Center website:
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2010/10/85.pdf
Spring, J. H. (2014). American education (16th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Texas population, 2011-2020 (projections). (2014, December 16). Retrieved October 16,
2015, from https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/popdat/st2020.shtm

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

Appendix
Fair Use Statement: I am making this material available in an effort to advance understanding in
environmental, political, human rights, economic, scientific and social injustice issues. I believe this
constitutes Fair Use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this appendix is distributed without
profit to those who have expressed a particular interest in receiving the included information for research
and education purposes. No infringement of copyright intended.
Chart 1

Chart 2

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

From Fostering a spirituality of communion: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston pastoral plan, p. 2

(Permission to use granted by James E. Barrette, Secretariat-Director of Pastoral and Educational Ministries,
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston)

Chart 3

From U.S. population projections: 20052050 (Pew Research Center) -Population and Immigration Projections:

Between 2005 and 2050, the nations population will increase to 438 million from
296 million, a rise of 142 million people that represents growth of 48%.
Immigrants who arrive after 2005, and their U.S.-born descendants, account for
82% of the projected national population increase during the 20052050 period.
Pew Research Center February 11. 2008 U.S. Population Projections: 20052050.
Of the 117 additional people attributable to the effect of new immigration, 67
million will be the immigrants themselves and 50 million will be their U.S.-born
children and grandchildren.
The nations foreign-born population, 36 million in 2005, is projected to rise to 81
million in 2050, growth of 129%.
In 2050, nearly one in five Americans (19%) will be an immigrant, compared with
one in eight now (12% in 2005).
The foreign-born share of the nations population will exceed historic highs
sometime between 2020 and 2025, when it reaches 15%. The historic peak share
was 14.7% in 1910 and 14.8% in 1890.

THE MELTING POT MYTH: A CALL FOR COSMOPOLITANISM

Births in the United States will play a growing role in Hispanic and Asian
population growth, so a diminishing proportion of both groups will be foreignborn.
Table 2

Table 3

Based on Texas Department of State Health Services data: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/popdat/st2020.shtm