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Assimilation and Multicultural

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Assimilation and Multiculturalism
Midterm
Reena S. Glover
SS 310
Herzing University
Dr. I. Hunt August 1, 2013

An assimilation and multicultural society that we are living in is taking on new meaning of what was, is, and will be to be an American. At one time, North America was the land of Native Americans who had their own customs that eventually was invaded by the Europeans. A set of people that when they came over to North America, had to be led by the Native Americans and the ways of their land to survive. Once the Europeans began to master the land, they took the land little by little from the Native Americans and changed it to their own way of living. They then incorporated their way of living on the new land, even with slavery. Taking from others what didn’t belong to them, making change and calling it their own. The Europeans are what we call modern day bullies.
One particular culture, African was a group that was assimilated by the Europeans. They were stripped of their customs and forced to live the way that Europeans wanted them to live. Africans lost the rich heritage of their color and culture. Their color was assimilated, and the range of the melanin of their skin went from a heavy dark color to have very faint light color and many shades in between. This happened because the slave’s master raped and bedded the African women. This wasn’t an instant change in color, but over time, the color changed. What was meant for bad and pleasure for “the man”, is now a wide range of beautiful colors that even the Europeans are now trying to get in on its beauty by tanning.
The assimilation of the culture came about because Africans were forced to give of their way of living, and living according to how the Europeans or slave masters wanted them to live.
Gone were times of hunting for their food, to eating the scrapes of food given by the slave owner. Food such as the inners of various animals and now some of these same foods are considered a delicatessen. Gone were the tribes wearing their traditional clothing, garments rich in colors and accessories that had meaning to wearing hand-me-downs. Another assimilation that occurred to the Africans were their religion. When Africans were brought to North America against their will, they were also denied to practice their religion, having to turn towards Christianity. In secret, they blended their religion with Christianity and held church meetings. Meeting that included dancing, shouting, praising, and singing. Eventually, African Americans were able to openly practice their religion that is now known as the black church but still taking on the new land’s religious holidays. Multiculturalism, it is defined by dictionary.com as “the preservation of different cultures of cultural identities within a society, as a state or nation”. With America being one of the biggest countries that allows people to be one with the country and its people but to also continue their native customs. Customs that they invite others in to see and share. One culture, Latinos, Spanish speaking people that also speak English as a second language. Cinco de Mayo, one of their holidays, is celebrated on the 5th of May. It is victory of the Mexican army in 1862, the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). This is now become the celebration in the United States of Mexican culture and heritage. They wear their traditional clothing and have performances such as mariachi music band, parades, and street festivals that is open to anyone. Another cultural identity that is within our society is the Gays and Lesbians. People that believe it is ok to be involved or love another person of the same sex. Their community was at one time; lived in secret, but now they live within the same boundaries of everyone else in the United States, even including marriage and having children. They have what is called the LGBT Parade and generally known by the rainbow. Assimilation and multiculturalism in my opinion run together and apart at the same time. A culture is assimilated by in with a more dominate culture, but also multicultural that they still have the ability to be and celebrate their given culture. America, the toss salad of our society with the blends of various green vegetables, land of North America; with cucumbers, carrots, beets, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, and radishes, the immigration of people; and sprinkled with salad dressing, the flavoring that is bring it all together in one bowl…the pot.

References
Assimilation. (2013). Retrieved from www.merriam-webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assimilation
Assimilation. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.yourdictionary.com/assimilation
Multiculturalism. (2013). Retrieved from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/multiculturalism
Cinco de Mayo. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo

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