13 Facts About Randolph Bourne

Randolph Silliman Bourne was a progressive writer and intellectual born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and a graduate of Columbia University.

Randolph Bourne is considered to be a spokesman for the young radicals living during World War I His articles appeared in journals including The Seven Arts and The New Republic.

Randolph Bourne's face was deformed at birth by misused forceps and the umbilical cord was coiled round his left ear, leaving it permanently damaged and misshapen.

Randolph Bourne chronicled his experiences in his essay titled, "The Handicapped - by one of them", considered a foundational work in disability studies.

Randolph Bourne was a journalist and editor of the Columbia Monthly, and he was a contributor to the weekly The New Republic since it was first launched in 1914, but after America entered the war, the magazine found his pacifist views incompatible.

Randolph Bourne was a student of Dewey's at Columbia, but he rejected Dewey's idea of using the war to spread democracy.

Randolph Bourne was greatly influenced by Horace Kallen's 1915 essay, "Democracy Versus the Melting-Pot".

Randolph Bourne was an enthusiast for Jean-Jacques Rousseau's belief in the necessity of a general will.

Randolph Bourne died in the Spanish flu pandemic after the war, in 1918.

Randolph Bourne argued that people would most often hold tightly to the literature and culture of their native country even if they lived in another.

Randolph Bourne believed this was true for the many immigrants to the United States.

Randolph Bourne felt that with this great mix of cultures and people, America would be able to grow into a trans-national nation, which would have interconnecting cultural fibers with other countries.

Randolph Bourne felt America would grow more as a country by broadening people's views to include immigrants' ways instead of conforming everyone to the melting-pot ideal.