“The Meltingest Pot” reveals how a sort of community is found in the Calloway Château, a building filled with people of vastly different cultural backgrounds. What was strikingly distinct about this particular place, when compared to those analyzed in other readings like Jackson Heights or Ditmas Park, was how close the tenants truly were. Reading about how the residents in the Calloway Château were constantly exchanging ethnic foods, giving advice on how to remedy an illness, and helping with basic maintenance of apartment units was astounding. I have lived in Queens for the eighteen years I have been on this planet and have moved several times from neighborhood to neighborhood, but never have I heard of ethnically different people acting so amicable towards one another. Most ethnic groups like explained in the article “Melting Together in Ditmas Park” stick to their own kind. The strangest remark Mehta made about the Calloway Château is that the doors are pretty much always open. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS DOES THIS IN ANY APARTMENT BUILDING?? Forget race, color, gender, ethnicity, nationality. Most New Yorkers are fearful of robbers coming in or invasion of privacy and would never do such a thing. I think this revelation alone gives you the impression that this residential building is far from ordinary.
On a different note, I am curious as to why the author of “The Meltingest Pot” gave the article that title. A melting pot is described as a place where people from different backgrounds assimilate to one new cohesive culture. Though it can be argued that the people of the Calloway Château have assimilated somewhat to get by in New York, like learning some English and riding the subway, the residents still hold strong to their cultural beliefs. In the article itself, Mehta explains that the Jewish residents allow for dating outside their culture, but have to marry within. Mehta also describes a Willie Mazyck as an African American who keeps to himself and does nothing but small talk with neighbors. Most residents will tolerate each other and even go so far as becoming friends and sharing food and shows to watch. However, they will never go so far as to form a new kind of mixed culture. Hence, a title like “The Most Tolerant/Friendliest Mix of People in a Building” is more appropriate.
