Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 11120169
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED001986 AUTHOR: HANDLIN, OSCAR
TITLE: OUT OF MANY--A STUDY GUIDE TO CULTURAL PLURALISM IN
THE UNITED STATES.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1964
NOTE: 32P.
ABSTRACT: MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING, HE CANNOT LIVE ALONE. AT
THE CRITICAL MOMENTS OF HIS EXISTENCE HE NEEDS THE SUPPORT
AND INVOLVEMENT OF A GROUP. THE QUESTION ARISES AS TO
WHETHER IT SHALL BE ONE SINGLE GROUP IMPOSED UPON HIM, OR
WHETHER HE SHALL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM INDIVIDUAL
INCLINATIONS. THIS QUESTION OF UNITY OR UNIFORMITY HAS BEEN
ANSWERED IN AMERICAN HISTORY BY A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY, AND
IT IS PROBABLE THAT PLURALISM WILL CONTINUE TO RETAIN ITS
VALUE FOR A FREE AMERICA IN THE FUTURE. IN ORDER TO
UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN PLURALISTIC
NATURE, KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC
GROUPS, OF RELIGIOUS IDEAS, AND OF MINORITY GROUPS IS
NECESSARY. AMERICAN HISTORY REVEALS THE IMMIGRATION OF MANY
DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS TO THE NEW WORLD. MIGRATION WITHIN
THE COUNTRY CAUSED MEN TO DRAW TOGETHER IN GROUPS ACCORDING
TO PLACE OF BIRTH AND FAMILY BACKGROUND, COLOR, AND/OR
RELIGIOUS CREED AND PRACTICES. THIS GROUPING SERVED AN
IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN ORGANIZING THE COMPLEX AMERICAN
SOCIETY. THE THREE BASIC RELIGIOUS FAITHS--PROTESTANTISM OR
SECTARIANISM, CATHOLICISM, AND JUDAISM--HAVE SERVED AS
CUSTODIAMS OF TRADITION AND OF ETHICAL VALUES. DIFFERENT
MINORITY GROUPS, SUCH AS NEGROES, INDIANS AND ORIENTALS,
LEND DIVERSITY AND ENRICHMENT TO AMERICAN CULTURE SO THAT
EVERYONE PROFITS FROM THE COMBINED HERITAGES OF THE
POPULATION. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF ETHNIC GROUPS CAN ALSO
GENERATE PREJUDICE UNLESS EVERY GROUP HELPS TO CREATE THE
GENERAL CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH ALL MAY THRIVE.
KEY DESCRIPTORS: American-History; Cultural-Differences;
Cultural-Exchange; Minority-Groups; Religious-Cultural
Groups
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Cultural-Pluralism; *Ethnic-Distribution;
*History-; *Intergroup-Relations; *Study-Guides
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base DP on 06/25/02.
Data base DP was last revised on 12/95/ .
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
cook@msue.msu.edu . Please read our
disclaimer for important
information about using our site.