ABSTRACT
The first chapter discusses the concept of diversity in the 1920s and 1930s. Following World War I, our consciousness of diversity intensified, a means to reestablish our national identity in response to the fear of foreign influence. The war was over, but many believed that our unity remained under threat from subversive ideologies. Diversity was embedded within Americanization policies such as cultural assimilation, restrictions on immigration, and singularization of language (English) and often expressed through the metaphor of the melting pot—an idea that dated back to the late 19th century.
The economic crisis of the 1930s, however, helped bring into high relief the country’s inherent pluralism, that is, how we were in effect a nation of nations. Being made up of a startling variety of ethnic, racial, and religious groups made us different from (and better than) other countries, it was now believed, something that would help us get through the hard times. In the latter part of the decade, inclusion and integration were further magnified as a reaction to the emergence of fascism in Europe.
