Navigating Multiple Modernities: Soon Hyun and the Envisioning of Korean/American Modernities

Reflecting on the life of a Korean American statesman and pastor who played prominent roles in the Korean Independence Movement, Soon Hyun (1879-1968), this article argues that the "multiple modernities" framework suggested by postcolonial scholars and others offers a useful framework for approaching the experience, ideas, and role of immigrants coming to the United States. Immigrants bring the experience of, and evaluations of, the multiple modernities that make up our world, and so bring with them critical experiences and voices that are increasingly valuable and necessary as the United States seeks to navigate the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural globalizing world.