CP ENGLISH 11-12
U1H28
Name: ______________________________
Unit 1: An American Dilemma
Date: _____________________
Diversity/Multiculturalism
Paper!
Section: 11.1 11.2 11.3 12.1
For our final paper for Unit 1, you must write a white paper. A white paper is an official document
usually written by an advisor in government. In it, you give advice to an official on a particular political
issue. For this paper, you have two choices:
1) Housing in Cambridge: As Cambridge gets increasingly wealthy, many people worry that many
lower-income residents, immigrants, and people of color will be unable to afford to live in the city.
You are an advisor to Henrietta Davis, the mayor. Should the mayor be concerned about the
potential decrease in Cambridge’s diversity? Or is the potential decrease in diversity not a concern?
2) Schooling in Boston: Historically, during the last few decades, Boston Public School students have
been bussed across the city so that schools can be as diverse as possible. As part of a new initiative,
more Boston public students will able to attend schools in their own neighborhoods, but many
worry that this will lead to less diverse schools since many neighborhoods in Boston are quite
segregated by race/ethnicity. Boston is about to elect a new mayor. You are on the transition team
that helps to get Mayor Connolly or Mayor Walsh get ready to lead. Should the new mayor be
concerned about the potential decrease in diversity within Boston public schools as they shift to the
neighborhood school system? Or is this potential decrease in diversity not a concern?
For your white paper, you will want to use the following structure:
1) Introduction:
a. a general overview of the topic you have chosen (no need to come up with some clever
hook as white papers are usually relatively formal; you can assume that the mayor already
cares about this issue)
b. your thesis or position on this issue (ideally a complex / counter-argument thesis)
2) Body Paragraph
a. back up your thesis with at least two paragraphs that support your argument
b. in addition, include a counter-argument paragraph in which you respond to other advisors
or city residents who might disagree with you
3) Conclusion
a. restate your thesis / position
b. “so what” / implications: what should the mayor do about this issue given your position?
You must also bring in at least three of the sources we have studied. At least two of the three have to be
from the following texts we have looked at on multiculturalism during the past few weeks. This includes:
-
Israel Zangwill, The Melting Pot (the excerpt from the play)
-
Horace Kallen, “Democracy versus the Melting Pot” (a critique of Zangwill)
-
Robert Putnam, “E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the 21st Century” (contact vs.
conflict theory in the US)
-
Richard Rodriguez, “Black and Tan Fantasy” (tension between Hispanic and black people)
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Zadie Smith, “Speaking in Tongues” (about being multiracial, multiethnic, etc)
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Judith Ortiz Cofer, “The Myth of the Latin Woman” (about being Hispanic and female)
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Richard Rodriguez, “The Disappearing Immigrant” (a defense of immigrants; in the tone review
packet)
You are also welcome to use one of our first three readings (Du Bois, Ellison, Baldwin) as a source as well
as long as you still have two pieces of evidence from the above sources. All the sources can be found on
our website if you need additional copies.
Sample Paper:
Cambridge has long prided itself on its diversity. Murals, especially in Central Square, celebrate
the many ethnicities that are present in Cambridge. Many worry that, with the increasing wealth of
Cambridge, only the rich will be able to stay. This could in turn lead many of its residents of color—who
are often low-income—to move away to more affordable cities and towns. While many people lament
this potential decrease in diversity, we should actually embrace it and work to accelerate it.
Today, multiculturalism is a popular view. Richard Rodriguez, a famous Hispanic commentator, is
one who is hopeful about the way different cultures can mix together. In his essay, “Black and Tan
Fantasy,” Rodriguez celebrates a group of multiracial teenagers who call themselves “Blaxicans.” In his
view, “These children exist in some future tense, well ahead of the politicians and the rest of us who live
in a nation that divides and divides again, by sex or color or accent or grievance. The Blaxican will
describe our national life, long after the politics of the moment have faded to gray” (Rodriguez 7). These
young people have figured out how to merge their multi-ethnic identities and form a complex identity
that appears to work for them. They are able to transcend the ethnic rivalries that could otherwise
impede their progress as citizens.
As Rodgriguez admits, however, such embracing identities are quite uncommon. They represent
a possible “future”—not how America really works in the present. In reality, different ethnic groups
usually struggle to get along. Mixed, heterogeneous societies are a tremendous struggle to live in.
Because of the stereotypes that exist in our heads, we are constantly mistreating each other and
disrespecting one another despite our best intentions. Judith Ortiz Kofer, a Hispanic essayist and poet,
describes one such instance in her essay “The Myth of the Latin Woman.” At her first poetry reading, she
approaches the table of an older woman who she thinks wants her autograph. Instead, the older woman
assumes Cofer is a waitress—presumably because of Cofer’s ethnicity. In Cofer’s words, “It reminded me
of what I had to overcome before anyone would take me seriously” (Cofer 207). Unfortunately, too
often our own prejudices prevent us from treating each other seriously and respectfully. In
contemporary America, diversity inevitably cause friction between different ethnic groups.
With such friction, societal harmony is near impossible in a diverse society. The American
sociologist Horace Kallen celebrated how America’s many peoples are like the many instruments that
make up a symphony. Even Kallen admitted though that in America there is no conductor or composer
making sure that the different instruments work together. As he put it, in “the symphony of civilization
the playing is the writing, so that there is nothing so fixed and inevitable about its progressions as
in music” (Kallen 5). In other words, there is no guarantee that the different musicians will create
beautiful music together since they have no music to follow. In a diverse community, this means
that there is no guidance for different ethnicities to get along with one another. Once again,
miscommunication and mistreatment is unavoidable in such a setting.
Thus, Cambridge should not celebrate its diversity; Cambridge should do everything it can do to
reduce its diversity. Cambridge should consider adopting proposals that reduce Cambridge to a single
ethnicity. Given the fact that this region used to belong to the Pequot tribe, perhaps we should only
allow full-blooded ancestors of the Pequots to reside in our fair city. Everyone else who comes from a
different ethnic background should be forced to relocate to other inferior cities such as Boston,
Somerville, etc. Implementing such a policy will bring about the true harmony as a community that
Cambridge needs.
Diversity White Paper – Graphic Organizer
1) Choose your topic (circle):
Housing in Cambridge
Schooling in Boston
2) Should the mayor be concerned about decreasing diversity in this situation? (circle) Yes No
3) Brainstorm at least a few supporting reasons here:
4) What might someone argue who disagrees with you on this issue? Brainstorm potential
counterarguments here.
5)
Which authors and evidence can you bring in to this white paper? You need to bring in at least
three authors. These authors can be brought into your paper in up to four ways:
a. To introduce your topic in the overview
b. To support your argument
c. To lend support to the counter-argument section
d. To back up your final thought / implications at the end
Author + Text
Evidence
How This Connects to My Paper