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Professor: Dr. Peter Vellon
peter.vellon@qc.cuny.edu
Instructional Technology Fellow: Caroline Erb-Medina
cerb@gc.cuny.edu
Category Archives: February 12
Outcast Ghettos and External Forces
Although blacks have been here the longest, their rate of inclusion into society has been the slowest. Why is that? In his paper, Gary Gerstle asks “Were individuals and groups free to fashion an American identity of their own choosing … Continue reading
Posted in February 12
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Walzer’s “What Does It Mean to Be American”?
Walzer’s “What Does It Mean to Be ‘American’?” discusses the many aspects of being “American.” An interesting point that Walzer brings up is his comment about patriotism. He says, “[p]erhaps [loyalty to the patrie, or father/motherland] isn’t assumed here because … Continue reading
Posted in Christopher Pringle, February, February 12
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Losing or Gaining an Identity? – Danielle Cohen
In Liberty, Coercion and the Making of America, Gary Gerstle discusses the assimilation of immigrants. He looks at the different approaches that scholars have taken to the topic over the years: Was Americanization, as Crevecoeur sees it, the best thing … Continue reading
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What Does it Mean to Be an American in NYC?
A critique of Lena Dunham’s popular HBO show, Girls, often focuses on the lack of diversity in the cast. To paraphrase one snarky reviewer, “A group of 20-something year olds living in NYC in 2012 and they don’t have one … Continue reading
Posted in February 12, Tzipora Nissan
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The Future Melting Pot
Were immigrants able to create their own identity or was their identity shaped by “social structures and historical circumstances over which they had little control”(Gerstle 527)? While Gerstle sides with the group arguing that uncontrollable conditions shaped the lives of … Continue reading
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Comments on “The Melting Pot and the Color Line”
One of the arguments that stood out to me while reading Steinberg’s “The Melting Pot And The Color Line” was the fact that “America’s melting pot has been inclusive of everybody but blacks.” Although Steinberg explains that other “people … Continue reading
Posted in Amanda Lederman, February, February 12
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To Assimilate or Not to Assimilate
The existence of assimilation and pluralism among immigrant communities and whether or not these two phenomena coexisted in American society is a prevalent topic in this week’s readings. Specifically, authors Stephen Steinberg and Gary Gerstle examine the concept of “Americanization,” … Continue reading
Posted in Evan Lefkovitz, February 12
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The Great American Melting Pot
Steinberg and Walzer both address the concept of the “melting pot”, the term used to describe immigrant assimilation into American culture. Each author presents contrasting views on the extent to which immigrants are “melted” into American society. While Steinberg suggests … Continue reading
Posted in February 12, Serinna Bradfield
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Americans and Immigrants: One And The Same?
Immigration and the question of the “quintessential American” are two topics that go hand in hand. In Michael Waizer’s piece “What Does it Mean to be American,” he said, “It is a country of immigrants who, however grateful they are … Continue reading
Posted in February 12, Gabrielle Kirschner
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Union of a Diverse America
A major theme in politics nowadays is the issue of immigration laws and what our policies should be on accepting foreigners into our country. One viewpoint is to restrict immigration entirely to “protect” America from being tainted by outsiders. However, … Continue reading
Posted in February 12, Jordan Willner
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