...The myths of “racial democracy,” the “the melting pot,” and “salad bowl” theories. The myths of “racial democracy,” the “melting pot,” and “Salad bowl” theories This paper will examine the theories of the “melting pot” and “salad bowl” and also look at “racial democracy” in Brazil. Secondly, this paper will look at cultural assimilation using these theories. Finally it will look at the myths of these theories and how they have affected the American and world societies. Have Americans really reached either the “melting pot” or “salad bowl” theories of cultural assimilation? Is Brazil really a “racial democracy” or is this also a myth and how does this differ with America? The United States of America is one of the most culturally diverse nations on earth. In 2009, Michael C. Lemay states, “the United States of America is arguably the most ethnically and racially diverse nation on earth”. Who is an American, I am using the term Americans to be defined as individuals who were native born, naturalized citizens, and individuals who consider themselves Americans from the United States of America. Generally speaking most Americans grow up, in ethnically homogeneous communities (Putnam, 2007) vice the differing theories of “melting pot” or “salad bowl.” While Americans live and work in communities that are ethnically and culturally diverse the issues of intolerance and prejudice against various ethnic and racial backgrounds has been a plague throughout...
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...Assignment 3 – Ragtime Introduction The novel Ragtime takes place in America in the early 1900's. It illustrates several life stories and destinies all woven together in different ways. Most of the characters in the novel are pure fictitious but some historical men and women from the era are featured. We get to met Houdini, the biggest illusionists of his time, JP Morgan, one of the wealthiest men in America, Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company and Emma Goldman, an anarchist and political activist. One of the main characters, and the main focus of this analysis is the Latvian, Jewish immigrant referred to as Tateh. We follow Tateh and his daughter Sha's progression through the different stages of becoming assimilated in the American melting pot that is the American culture. Main Body Tateh and his family arrived to America in the beginning of the nineteenth century. This was a time in history when immigrants, mostly europeans were flowing into New York. Between 1901 and 1910 as many as 8.8 million people arrived from overseas (Duncan and Goddard, 2009:66) all stepping of the boat filled with dreams and hopes of a better life in “the land of opportunity”. The reality in New York was different. The streets were dirty, crime was increasing along with the growing population and assimilation was not easy. “The officials changed names they couldn't pronounce and tore people from their families... “They were despised by New Yorkers. They were filthy...
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...Borders At the beginning of this century, a Jewish immigrant from England named Israel Zangwill authored a play whose story line has long been forgotten, but whose central theme has not. His play was entitled "The Melting Pot" and its message still holds a tremendous power on the national imagination – “the promise that all immigrants can be transformed into Americans, a new alloy forged in a crucible of democracy, freedom and civic responsibility” (Booth, A1). “Today, the United States is experiencing its second great wave of immigration, a movement of people that has profound implications for a society that by tradition pays homage to its immigrant roots at the same time it confronts complex and deeply ingrained ethnic and racial divisions” (Booth A1). Whether or not America continues to be the great melting pot or the land of opportunity remains to be seen. Clearly implied in Zangwill’s play is the notion is that America will always be an inviting place to all, where dreams can be realized and opportunities abound. In support of this notion that America has traditionally been viewed as a land of opportunity, some citizens believe that existing border restrictions are too firm. In contrast, due to increased tension in Mexico, many politicians feel that America must tighten its already secure borders to prevent illegal immigration. Although both parties differ, United States borders must be protected to maintain the integrity of the country. Supporters of more open borders...
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...Cultural Differences: A Lesson in Tolerance Approximately Two - Three Weeks of Instruction Stage 1 – Desired Results Quarter 4 Rhetorical Approach Standards – Grade 7: V1.1 (identify figurative language), RC 2.4 (compare original text to summary), RC 2.6 (relate author’s evidence to claim), LRA 3.5 (identify recurring themes), WA 2.2 (response to literature) Big Ideas & Understanding(s): Essential Question(s): We are authors of own identity. 1. How would I describe the people in my community? Students will understand that… Stereotypes change over time; individuals must resist stereotyping. Individuals should consider themselves members of fluid or changeable groups. An extended metaphor can be a powerful way to structure an argument. 2. What are some different ways that I define my own identity? 3. How can a metaphor be extended to tell an entire narrative? 4. How can cultural differences within the United States strengthen us as a country? Student will know… Students will be able to… Comparisons (extended metaphors) are powerful ways to structure an argument 1.Trace the author’s argument in an article How different figures of speech can function in an argument or narrative: alliteration, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, personification, and imagery Background information on Ellis Island, and/or immigration, depending on visual texts chosen How to write a different type of Response to Literature…one modeled after the...
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...08/11/14 In today’s society racism is still a problem just like it was in the past. It is not publicized as before but it is still alive and well in society. With America being a melting pot of race and ethnicity one would think this issue should not exist. I chose the two poems What it’s like to be a black girl by Patricia Smith and Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales. These two poems are written from a women’s perspective about how racial discrimination is perceived in America. Racism is no longer just a black and white my paper will show how these two pieces showed how cultures are subjected to discrimination. The title of these two poems catch my attention one being I am a black girl and two I am a child of America. I too have faced some challenges that are discussed in these poems. In a country that was founded and built on immigrants society makes a big deal about a person’s race and culture. Why does race matter? Does it make you a better person? Does it make you prettier? Sadly our society has placed into the heads of young women that pretty means lighter skin. That being pretty gives you an easier life. The authors of these two poems are African American and Puerto Rican and they have both faced forms of racial discrimination. In America girls were raised that Caucasian was the accepted race. “It’s dropping food coloring in your eyes to make them blue and suffering their burn in silence (Smith)”. A line for What it’s like to...
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...response to Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing,” although the content of both poems are similar. It would appear that the poets wrote them together though they were written at different times. An analysis of these poems reveals a common theme, similar language and different narration aspects. The theme of both poems is patriotism, as evidenced by both poets using the words “I sing.” In “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman portrays a list of different occupations and people who are happy with their jobs in America while Hughes portrays one person that is happy. Hughes’s version states “I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother” (line 1-2). It appears to be written by a slave that is happy about being in America. Whereas Whitman’s poem portrays a group when it states “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,” (line 9) it suggests that it is about non-blacks, especially after reading Hughes’s poem. The main idea of both is to say that though those that make up the melting pot of America are different in race, color and background, everyone has a role to play in making this country great. The context of the poems are almost identical. Both are written in free verse and do not have a pattern or rhyme. They are also both written in an upbeat, happy tone. Whitman uses words like “carols,” “blithe,” “robust” and “melodious” in his version to describe how content the group of people in his version are with their status in America. Hughes uses the words “well...
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...Quarter 2 (7th)‐ “Melting Pot” and “How I Learned English” Stage 1 – Desired Results Standards LRA 3.2 (Fall EOC) Identify events that advance the plot, and determine how each event explains past or present actions or foreshadows future actions. ARG LRA 3.4 (Fall EOC) Identify and analyze recurring themes across works (e.g. the value of bravery, loyalty, and friendships; the effects of loneliness). ARG V1.1 (Fall EOC) Identify idioms, analogies, metaphors, and similes in prose and poetry. V 1.3 (Fall EOC) Clarify word meanings through the use of definition, example, restatement or contrast. WA 2.5‐ (STAR) Write summaries of reading materials. SUM WA 2.2 (On Demand/ STAR) Write Responses to Literature. ARG WS 1.2 (On Demand) Support all statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics, and give examples. REF WS 1.3 Use strategies of note‐taking, outlining and summarizing to impose structure on composition drafts. AN, SUM, REF WS 1.4 (Fall EOC) Identify topics and evaluate questions and develop ideas leading to inquiry, investigation, and research. AN, ARG WS 1.7 (On Demand, Fall EOC) Revise writing to improve organization and word choice after checking the logic of ideas and the precision of vocabulary. ALANG WOC 1.4 (On Demand) Demonstrate the mechanics of writing (e.g. quotation marks, commas at the end of dependent clauses) and appropriate English usage (e.g. pronoun reference). ALANG Big Ideas & Understanding(s): ...
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...Should the Words “under God” be removed from the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance? The Pledge of Allegiance was first written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy and ever since President Eisenhower and Congress added the phrase “under God” in 1954, controversy has arose in several facets of life. Although the phrase supposedly makes sense, due to its ongoing presence within society, as a large sum of Americans believe in God and the fact that the pledge is recited every day in practically every school facility, the ideal that America is a “melting pot of diversity” has evidently been neglected. The abandonment of the specifications regarding this ideal have led many to wonder— do the words “under God” align with the current and past ideals of society? Many...
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...Analysis of Hell-Heaven Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian American writer who has developed a way of writing that reflects off of events in her life and certain incidents she has endured throughout her time. Although Lahiri was not born in the heart of India, her parents passed down the passion of their culture due to spending a part of their lives in Bengali. The Bengali culture that was maintained as she grew up allowed her to apply her knowledge and experiences into her short stories. In “Hell-Heaven”, the Bengali culture played a prominent role throughout the whole story. This story had been told through the eyes of a woman who had been recollecting on her life as a young, growing girl. Lahiri chose to use the daughter as the narrator because it was easiest for her to see the dynamics between her parents and the newcomer. The newcomer is Pranab Chakraborty, a Bengali from Calcutta studying engineering at an institute in America. He ironically came across a woman who lived in America, shared the same Bengali culture as him and was also raised in Calcutta. To come across such a familiar thing in an unfamiliar, foreign country, allowed Pranab to feel as if he wasn’t alone and had someone to share his experiences with. Now knowing that Lahiri had parents from Bengali and she spent her years growing up in America, it is evident that her family’s culture is strongly reflected in the story “Hell-Heaven”. Living in America and having to assimilate to the American culture is easier...
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...America is truly a “melting pot.” coming from Toronto, although not United States land, they are very similar, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I experience this blending of cultures everyday. And having attended a nearly all white school when I was younger, I vastly prefer high school which was a mix of latinos,whites and blacks, where students come from all backgrounds. Some Americans may not be aware of it, but the integration of cultures in America has changed popular culture, music, and daily life for the better. Each culture adds different values and a different perspective to form the entirety that is American life. On the weekends, my neighbors sometimes decide to serenade the entire block by turning up their traditional Spanish music. I don’t mind, however I am Columbian,but the message that the music delivers is universal. The soulful blend of vocals and acoustic guitar speaks of heartache, while the fiery trumpets and trombones speak of passion. No other music delivers so direct and powerful a message about love than Hispanic music, a music which has influenced modern hip-hop. Every afternoon, I hear on the streets the lively, hip-hop beat of “Reggaeton,” a music that blends Jamaican and Latino influences. But the influence of different cultures is hardly restricted to music. Not only have contemporary movies began incorporate elements from diverse cultures, foreign films have also become more popular in America. These films broaden our understanding of the...
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...BCOM/275 October 21, 2013 Immigration Debate America always was and still is a nation filled with a diverse group of people, many who have come from different countries. There have always been people on both sides of the fence, even back then on the subject, and we still have the same issue today. People have always been coming into the United States throughout history both legally and illegally. The issue has always been a topic of debate; even more so with each passing day. During the 1870s and on up through the 1920s a huge wave of immigration changed our history. Immigrants came from all over the world in search of both new lives and opportunities in what would be a great new land for them. Many came because their countries were so poverty-stricken they needed to start over. Some of the immigrants had difficulty being accepted into American society due to the oppression and hardships challenging their new start. Racial discrimination and rejection were common among new immigrants. The sudden spurt of immigration and the resistance from natives caused suppression imposed by the US government. The 1924 National Origins Acts drastically cut the number of immigrants allowed to come into the country. When this went into effect immigration, mainly from Asia and Southern and Eastern Europe, ended. During the years between the 1880s and 1920s around 25 million people came to the US which caused it to become a huge melting pot, with a variety of racial and ethnic groups beginning...
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...university learning trivial facts which don’t apply to the real world when you can bypass it and still learn an important skill.... [tags: Argumentative Persuasive Educating Essays] 1329 words (3.8 pages) $29.95 [preview] America: Culturally Constipated? - ... Cultural pluralism or cultural diversity replaces the melting pot image with what is frequently described as a “mosaic” or almost a “tossed salad.” As Christine Bennett stated “each part retains some of its uniqueness while contributing to the beauty and strength of the whole composition.” The United States still has failed to become part of the tossed salad idea we don’t diversify with other cultures, why. Prejudice and racism is a root problem for cultural barriers within the borders of the United States.... [tags: American Culture] 763 words (2.2 pages) $19.95 [preview] Cultural Challenges Of Doing Business Overseas - The Cultural Challenges of Doing Business Overseas Steve Kafka, an American of Czech origin and a franchiser of Chicago Style Pizza, has decided to expand his business and open a franchise in Prague, Czech Republic. Before venturing into the global business sector, Steve needs to conduct an in-depth analysis in order to become familiar with the Czech culture. This analysis will present opportunities and risks that Steve will need to achieve and overcome so his end-state goal of expanding...
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...United States Should Stop Acting as a Policeman for Other Countries The race to become the global dominant leader has intensified over the past couple of decades. It is common practice of human nature to overpower the weaker one and show power to dominate and to exploit. The first human war dates back thousands of centuries back and ever since wars and battles have continued between different tribes, races and countries. In a nutshell we could say that almost all of the wars were fought to dominate and gain superiority over your opponents. In the 20th century a new terminology termed as “Global Leadership” has emerged onto the global scenario. This policy has been one of the most crucial yet the most secrete policy of America. Ever Since United States of America won the World War 2, the desire to control and dominate has been constantly increasing among the Americans. The question of whether the United states should act as a policeman for other countries has been long debated over the past couple of decades, On one side there are people who support the quest of Usa being given the role of the world peace maker and on the other majority are those who question; “Who is USA to control or act as a policeman for other countries?” History of wars to dominate other cultures, creeds, races and nations goes back to thousands of years. As over the centuries resources have become limited and the fight and the desire to control the world’s resource has intensified. Relations between countries...
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...comes home from school excited after learning that she can obtain her learner’s permit because she is 15. Her parents explain that she will not be able to receive her permit because she is in the United States illegally. Ana’s world comes crashing down around her; she did not know that she was not a citizen. Her future, once promising seems dismal. Without proper documentation Ana cannot get a driver’s license, attend college, or even get a good job. Ana did not decide to come to America illegally; however, she will suffer consequences of her parent’s decision. Citizens can benefit from different cultures establishing residence in the United States these benefits have helped to shape society. Some people would argue that we must stop immigration. Others argue that immigration is beneficial but that our current policies are not working. The United States began with immigrants and even though immigration laws need to be reformed, immigrants are vital, and beneficial to society. America, as we know it today, began because of immigrants. The history of immigration can be seen in four periods. The first period started in the eighteenth century and continued through the late nineteenth century. In this first period most of the immigrants came from the British Islands and Western Europe. During this period of immigration the United States had an open-immigration policy. The second period of immigration occurred from the late nineteenth century until about 1921. This...
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...American history includes a multitude of international immigrants from countries all over the world including China, Mexico, and Britain. Many people migrate to America due to its vast amount of opportunities and to live out the “American dream.” This term depicts Americas freedom and independence that its people demand and worked hard to attain. America is also considered the “melting pot” because these immigrants make up the country and have helped redefine and cultivate the land. My ancestors once migrated to this land of opportunities in this very same pursuit of a successful, accepting lifestyle for their children. My family and I’s history represents American history because I come from a line of immigrants that redefined what love looks...
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