Ethnic Heritage Studies Centers is the title of the Bill introduced into the House of Representatives in 1970 by Roman C. Pucinski. A Polish American representative from Chicago sought to promote ethnic awareness, and defeat forceful assimilation symbolized by the melting pot doctrine and "a growing sense of sameness" that was allegedly "permeating the american society." His effort was a part of a broader wave of ethnic resurgence - a renewed interest in the affairs of minority ethnic groups. Although when bill became an Act in 1972 it supported just the existing programs, and did not establish the centers, this effort to promote multicultural education had enough impetus to justify the need for it till present day.
This web-site is an appendix to the Master's thesis "Searching for Answers, for an Identity, for a Cause to Espouse:" Ethnic Resurgence in the Untied States, 1963-1977. It showcases the debate on the Ethnic Heritage Studies Bill and to provide a complete background to the arguements made in the thesis. The major arguement is that American ethnic minorities (particularly those of European origin) promoted appreciation of their ethnic identity in order to redefine the discourse of American history, and portray ethnic minorities as an essential factor in defining American national identity. In the process the spokesmen for ethnic minorities of the European origin (or "white ethnics") downplayed similar efforts of African Americans to establish permanent programs of Black studies.
In order to examine the origin of the debate and controversy behind the bill, the website is divided into three sections: 'Legislation,' 'Hearings,' and 'Implementation.' The LEGISLATION section features the bills, introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate from 1970 to 1972, and the variant, which was signed into law in May of 1972 as Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The HEARINGS section allows the user to explore the record of the debate in the House and Senate, looking closely at individual statements, which present the various views and concerns of the American ethnic communities. The IMPLEMENTATION section offers an opportunity to investigate the aims and content of the sponsored projects, as well as the financial patterns of the sponsorship itself. Finally, the REFERENCE DATA section provides a list of materials for further reading on the problematic of the melting pot theory and multicultural education from the 1960s to the present.
