Culture: The Big External Influence 45
them and, in some cases, even deny them rights. Think of the chimp
model again: A super-typical alpha who is dropped to typical status
will become more than disdainful of the sub-typical. This would
prove to be one of the most complex assimilations in American
history.
Here is what’s going on behind the curtain: As a result of a
melting-pot culture, some sub-groups lie outside cultural norms.
These people should enjoy the rights of the greater culture, but
don’t. The nature of humans is to deny those who are not the typi-
cal or super-typical as much as possible. The sub-typical receive
different treatment from the typical or super-typical.
The super-typical people of the day, principally politicians and
activists, tried to correct these wrongs through writings and
speeches. Which do you think carried the most power, even in an
age before mass-media? Imagine the presence of a 6-foot, 5-inch
tall Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. By visual
contact and word-of-mouth, Lincoln rose to the throne of alpha-chimp.
After this, American culture expanded steadily to include large
groups of Mexican immigrants, Pacific Islanders, Inuit, and many
others. Assimilation can be painful, especially for those assimilat-
ing. Each new group brought new flavors to the melting pot. Mean-
while, the belief that all men are created equal was tested.
The Great Depression hit America at the time of a fledgling
technology: radio. A new kind of American politician evolved: