The Greatest Issue of the Day

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The Greatest Issue of the Day

Speech

By: Lizzie Black Kander

Date: January 1, 1900

Source: Kander, Lizzie Black. "The Greatest Issue of the Day" Milwaukee January 1, 1900. Lizzie Black Kander Papers, State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

About the Author: Born in Wisconsin in 1858 to Jewish immigrants, Leslie Black Kander was involved from an early age in efforts to reform the conditions of American immigrants and help them better acclimate into society. She became a champion of the movement to educate young girls and women on how to manage a home. Kander authored a popular cookbook that was designed to help immigrants adjust American ingredients. The book has been reprinted multiple times and sold more than two million copies.

INTRODUCTION

The nineteenth century was a period in the history of the United States filled with reform movements aimed at raising the profile of certain groups in society. Some of the most prominent reform movements targeted the status of women's and immigrants' rights. As a nation that welcomed hundreds of thousands of immigrants each year, U.S. society faced a challenge as to how to best acclimate these people into the population.

The United States throughout much of its history was viewed as a safe haven and a land of opportunity by peoples throughout the globe. Particularly for people living under harsh conditions in European nations where persecution of particular ethnic groups had become rampant, the shores of the United States offered the chance to escape and build a new life.

Yet, upon arrival in the United States, many immigrants realized that life was no less challenging. Immigrants, often regardless of their social status in their native countries, arrived at or near the bottom of the social ladder and were often forced to accept low-paying jobs and live in difficult conditions. In a culture and economy of the late 1800s that was becoming increasingly reliant on large industry and factories, immigrants filled these labor roles in the greatest numbers. These often low-paying positions often led immigrant families into poverty, which made it difficult to become fully acclimated into the greater society.

Recognizing these difficulties, and that the path toward increased socio-economic status for immigrants began with education, efforts were proposed to advance the rights of immigrants. Through these efforts over a period of decades, the status of immigrants would become slowly enhanced and while immigrants would always be forced to face social and economic challenges, the reform movements aided their acclimation process and helped many achieve respect and great success in the United States.

PRIMARY SOURCE

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Mrs. Minona Phipps—scared me most to death by saying I would not be doing my duty to my country, to my children, if I advanced any other cause but that of Woman's Suffrage. And so we came to a mutual understanding and we decided that the greatest issue of the day was The New Woman.

You'd do me the greatest kind of a favor if you'd tell them that I had her almost ready for presentation to the society, this evening. But an incident occurred which changed the whole current of my thoughts.

It was downtown in one of our large furniture stores. The massive front door was gently opened and a small lad of about twelve years, with dark complexion, and bright but rather dirty face, with unmistakable Hebrew features, carrying on his arm a great long basket, timidly approached the proprietor with a genuine business air, offered his matches for sale cheap! He attracted the attention of everyone within hearing and the merchant, more pleased with good salesmanship of the little fellow, than the quality of his wares immediately bought 25 c[en]ts worth.

I followed the lad, asked him his name and address and why he did not go to school. He explained the necessity of his having to help support the family. His father was sick, a sister fourteen years old, had never gone to school was doing the housework and taking care of the children, while his mother was occupied all day, tending a fruit stand at the market.

Having had my attention drawn to numerous similar cases of late, my mind became so absorbed in them, that all other thoughts sank into oblivion, and I resolved then and there that I would submit to you the welfare and happiness of the Little Russian Refugees, knowing that their education and enlightenment is to us the most vital and the Greatest issue of the Day.…

We must try and uplift our downtrodden and unfortunate brethren, not alone for their own sakes and for that of humanity, but for the protection and reputation of our own nationality.

Their misdeeds reflect directly on us and every one of us individually ought to do all in his power to help lay the foundation of good citizenship in them.

What wonderful strength of character have these people displayed, when in spite of the hardships heaped upon them, in spite of the oppressions—many of them have surmounted all obstacles are getting along nicely.

The wonderful transition which often takes place in a comparatively short time, is enough to arouse the admiration and wonder of the whole enlightened world; often creating jealousy and hatred in such narrow minded and bigoted relics of the middle ages as are now trying to engender prejudice against the whole Hebrew Race.

Tradition has painted us as proverbial for our skill in money making. I consider this a proud distinction. Who can afford to belittle money. Money is power is necessary for the advancement of civilization, art and science. I do not doubt that through energy and industry, all of those bright little Russians, who have sought refuge in our midst, will in time—be well-to-do.

What I fear most is their ignorance! If we allow things to go on as they are, their education will not keep face with their worldly advancement. And here is where the mischief lies. The fact of it is, they are anxious to learn; but the opportunities are denied them. Can't we help them out of this difficulty? Can't we open up an evening school here where the foundation of their education can be made, the English language taught?

A school of this description was conducted here several years ago, with elegant results, why did we allow it to discontinue?

Let us arouse ourselves and our citizens to the seriousness of the situation; to the necessity of immediate action. Let us all join hands and promise that we will encourage and help this and all other movements towards their educational advancement and you can rest assured, we will gain the respect of the community, and be more than repaid for our time and trouble and the coming generation will be only to glad (proud) to acknowledge their relationship to "the Little Russian Refugee."

SIGNIFICANCE

As a child of Jewish immigrants, Leslie Black Kander saw herself as well positioned to champion the cause of this segment of the population that she considered ignored by society. Throughout the history of the United States, considerable attention has been placed upon the assimilation and contribution of immigrants. With the understanding that the majority of the population today is made up of immigrants or descendents of immigrants who arrived after the nation declared its independence, the rights and opportunities granted to this segment of society has been directly linked to the growth of the nation.

While this speech centers around the story of one young Jewish refugee from Russia, Kander makes it clear that there were many thousands of other immigrants from all over the world facing similar challenges. The greatest obstacle faced by immigrants during Kander's period was their lack of education. Many young children who arrived in the United States were forced by economic conditions immediately into the labor market, and lacked the ability to go to school. While many had a desire to learn and discover their new surroundings and culture, the environment in which they were placed prevented them from doing so.

Kander specifically makes reference to the potential of Jewish immigrants to become financially successful, the message of her statements could be applied to any ethnic or national group. Kander's efforts were aimed at allowing other people to realize the importance of helping immigrants acclimate so that they could better contribute to the overall development of the United States.

Immigration has continued to be a major contributing factor to the rapid population growth of the United States. While the areas of the world from where immigrants have originated have changed over the decades, many undereducated immigrants continue to face similar challenges with low wage jobs and difficult socioeconomic conditions. On the other hand, highly educated immigrants also today migrate to the United States to pursue opportunities in the scientific, academic, and business community. One 1995 study found that on average, the proportion of immigrants to the United States with post-graduate degrees is greater than the proportion of people with postgraduate degrees in the native U.S. population. In the United States today, immigrants continue to be recognized as an important part of the economy and culture of the country.

Educational opportunities for immigrants have been enhanced with federal funding for language instruction for immigrants and their school-age children with limited proficiency in English. Many state programs also provide opportunities for educating immigrant children, with the goal of providing enough specialized instruction that will enable immigrant students to pass the same standardized tests necessary for promotion and graduation as native-born students. University-level immigrant students face continuing barriers to higher education, as limited space in public universities, rising tuition costs in both public and private universities, and lack of official residency status can all deter immigrant students from pursuing a college degree in the U.S. In 2005, a bipartisan group of senators proposed the revised legislation commonly known as the DREAM Act of 2006, that would provide temporary documented status for eligible undocumented immigrant students pursuing higher education, along with access to less expensive in-state college tuition rates.