Dealing with Diversity

Abstract

This article is a history of howMilwaukee urban leaders treated their diverse, ethnic communities by “ Americanizing” them. The Milwaukee experience with their immigrants was both similar to and distinctive of other American cities. Basing their reception on the German tradition of fellowship as other midwestern centers, Milwaukeeans were unique throughout in combining a love for promoting the ethnic diversity of dress, music, and dance with teaching foreigners the English language and American democratic principles. Therefore, from especially the 1920s on, Americanizing foreigners in tax-supported, school social centers meant teaching them to be loyal Americans while offering training in and promotion of cultural differences.