Reflecting On “Hyphen Nation” Matthew Frye Jacobson’s “Hyphen Nation” focuses on America’s ethnic revival and the evolution of race and culture in America. Jacobson claims that the ethnic revival changed political and social culture, American textbooks and the nation’s identity, and credited the movement with the restoration of Ellis Island into its present museum. These accreditations are all justified and Jacobson presents a thorough history of proof through our nation’s progress and struggle with ethnicity and multiculturalism. The ethnic revival began with the Civil Rights Movement. As Americans grew less settled in the wars and actions of their government there was also a focus in the black community of a desire for equality, both in public and in politics. Jacobson discusses how this disillusionment also belonged to the ethnic white communities. In fact, he pointed out several slogans in which slurs would be interchanged to prove a point. However, these turns of phrase were also used by those that opposed the presence of ethnic diversity in America. Going on to explain things such as the sources and effects of the ethnic revival, Jacobson also discusses ethnic consciousness and a disassociation of ethnic whites from those whites who oppose ethnic diversity. Another great …show more content…
Structural Pluralism led to an America that not only accepts ethnic diversity but celebrates it and Ellis Island’s funds to be opened as a museum would not have been feasible otherwise. Generation by generation, Jacobson discussed how the diversification of America moved from literature to film and straight into America’s homes. Whether people of that time would have claimed such access desensitized the future generations to inter-ethnic/racial relations is extremely interesting to