What is "melting pot"

Melting pot \Melt"ing pot\ n.

1. A vessel in which anything is melted; a crucible.

2. (Sociology) (fig.) A place where people of different backgrounds become similar in culture. The United States has often been referred to as a melting pot, though the differences in cultures of recently arrived immigrants persists beyond the generation of immigrants.

n. 1 A crucible, or similar pot, used to fuse mixtures of metals etc. 2 (context idiomatic English) A place where many divergent things (often races or cultures, but also talents) come together and are homogenized.

1. n. an environment in which many ideas and races are socially assimilated

2. a vessel made of material that does not melt easily; used for high temperature chemical reactions [syn: crucible]

The melting pot is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture. It is particularly used to describe the assimilation of immigrants to the United States. The melting-together metaphor was in use by the 1780s. The exact term "melting pot" came into general usage in the United States after it was used as a metaphor describing a fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities in the 1908 play of the same name.

The desirability of assimilation and the melting pot model has been reconsidered by proponents of multiculturalism, who have suggested alternative metaphors to describe the current American society, such as a mosaic, salad bowl, or kaleidoscope, in which different cultures mix, but remain distinct in some aspects. Others argue that cultural assimilation is important to the maintenance of national unity, and should be promoted.

Melting Pot is a greatest hits album by the British alternative rock band The Charlatans (known in the United States as The Charlatans UK). Featuring tracks from their time on Beggars Banquet Records between 1990 and 1997 the album was released on 23 February 1998. The cover features a picture of The Weaverdale cafe (now renamed The Melting Pot) in Northwich, the site of the group's first meeting after signing to Beggars in 1990. The song "Opportunity Three" is a remix by Flood of the song "Opportunity" from the Some Friendly album that otherwise only appeared on the Over Rising EP.

The album was re-released on 20 May 2002 with a slipcase to match the artwork of b-sides compilation Songs from the Other Side. No changes were made to the album artwork or track listing.

The melting pot is an analogy for the way in which heterogeneous societies become more homogeneous.

Melting pot may also refer to:

• Crucible, a container in which materials can be heated to very high temperatures
• The Melting Pot (restaurant), an American chain of fondue restaurants

Melting Pot, also known as Race, is a 1998 feature film directed by Tom Musca (notable writer and producer of Stand and Deliver).

Melting Pot is a 1971 studio album recorded by Booker T. & the M.G.'s for Stax Records. It is the last album to feature the group's classic lineup of Jones, Cropper, Dunn, and Jackson and the first of their albums to contain longer, jam-oriented compositions.

Melting Pot is the second studio album by English jazz composer Zoe Rahman, released on 1 July 2006 by Manushi Records.

"Melting Pot" is the 1969 debut single from UK pop group Blue Mink. The song peaked at number three in the UK Singles chart in the first week of 1970, and also reached Number 11 in Ireland. While the song has assimilationist undertones, it is generally considered a plea for racial harmony.

The song was the opening track on the group's 1969 debut album, also titled Melting Pot.

The song was written by Blue Mink's lead singer Roger Cook and long time songwriter partner Roger Greenaway.