I think that's an interesting article because the percentage of Americans who can trace their heritage all the way back to the Pilgrims is so small. It's kind of ironic, since it makes these "real Americans," who have been here since America was first colonized, a minority in American society. (Of course, I'm using "real Americans" ironically since I think that Native Americans, rather than Pilgrims, are "real Americans.") Therefore, embracing all of the other cultures that exist in America today is really one of the most patriotic and American things we can do.
Richard Rodriguez, the author of Hunger of Memory, which regularly makes high school reading lists, was quoted a few years back in the Wash Post for claiming that the melting pot is actually a valuable cultural metaphor, because the color that would result from all of our skin tones melting together would be brown. Rodriguez is American born, but his parents were Mexican immigrants, and he made that claim to champion the brownness that is associated with people from all over Latin America. I've always found that argument interesting, and I've been trying for years to track down the article again. I haven't been successful, though.
I agree with both the melting pot theory and the salad bowl theory.
While we come from distinctly diverse races, I feel that we tend to mix or "melt" with other races based on shared religious and lifestyle preferences.
I think that's an interesting article because the percentage of Americans who can trace their heritage all the way back to the Pilgrims is so small. It's kind of ironic, since it makes these "real Americans," who have been here since America was first colonized, a minority in American society. (Of course, I'm using "real Americans" ironically since I think that Native Americans, rather than Pilgrims, are "real Americans.") Therefore, embracing all of the other cultures that exist in America today is really one of the most patriotic and American things we can do.
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ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Race and Ethnicity are issues that all of us deal with whether we realize it or not.
ReplyDeleteRelevant Hatchet article on a former grad student suing GW for fraud; citing discrimination against english as a second language (ESL) students--
http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2010/11/18/News/Former.Grad.Student.Sues.Gw.For.Fraud-3960657.shtml
Article on two black women serving life sentences for an alleged armed robber, which they deny being involved with. The robbery "yielded $11."
http://action.naacp.org/page/s/scottsisters?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20101109ScottSistersLaunch&source=20101109ScottSistersLaunch
http://www.facebook.com/StandingwiththeScottSisters?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20101109ScottSistersNewSigners&source=20101109ScottSistersNewSigners
Thoughts/experiences with race and religion, etc etc?
Richard Rodriguez, the author of Hunger of Memory, which regularly makes high school reading lists, was quoted a few years back in the Wash Post for claiming that the melting pot is actually a valuable cultural metaphor, because the color that would result from all of our skin tones melting together would be brown. Rodriguez is American born, but his parents were Mexican immigrants, and he made that claim to champion the brownness that is associated with people from all over Latin America. I've always found that argument interesting, and I've been trying for years to track down the article again. I haven't been successful, though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both the melting pot theory and the salad bowl theory.
ReplyDeleteWhile we come from distinctly diverse races, I feel that we tend to mix or "melt" with other races based on shared religious and lifestyle preferences.