American Assimilation

In Milton Gordon’s, “Assimilation in America”, theorizes that there is a “3” stage process of assimilation; acculturation (cultural assimilation), integration (structural assimilation), intermarriage (marital assimilation). However, it is actually 7 stages, but for simplicity will refer to as 3 stages. The overall process seems to follow the theory of Anglo-conformity, in which immigrants “assume the desirability of maintaining English institutions, the English language, and English-oriented cultural patterns as dominant and standard in American life” (265).

With each generation of Irish Americans, the assimilation of the American culture became greater. Irish Americans were very open to acculturation and structural assimilation. For Irish Americans, cultural assimilation was a very swift process. Mainly, they would focus on learning the Anglo-Protestant culture along with the values and basic views of the country. Immigrating Irish, like many other ethnic immigrants, have to adapt to the ways of the new country by adopting the language and cultural norms. Cultural assimilation for Irish Americans occurred when they adopted Anglo-protestant culture and, in exchange, gave up much of their own culture. Not only did Irish American citizens have to assimilate to the culture, they also had to go through

It is expected that ultimately there will be a loss of ethnic distinctiveness for immigrants in the U.S., meaning the lack of attachment to the country of origin. (Golash-Boza, 2006) It is argued that all ethnic distinctiveness will no longer exist by the seventh or eighth generations. Before exploring the influence of foreign born vs. U.S. born parents on their children’s cultural assimilation; the different theories of assimilation will be explored. The idea of Assimilation came about in the early 20th century. (Golash-Boza, 2006) Assimilation is surrounded by two theories, the first that all immigrants will assimilate sooner or later and that the generational status of the individual is one of the main factors in determining the

The organizations that would take over other beings and cause them to lose their identity to become a slave to the larger organization. However, Assimilation often associated with a negative connotation with the loss of one’s identity or historical culture as part of an integration process with a new, larger cultural identity. This negative connotation therefore raises racial and cultural identity concerns at the mere mention of the term, which results in a loss of the positive connotations of assimilation and loss of the perspective that assimilation does not require the loss of individual identity. The people involved still retain their individual identities, hopes, dreams, interests, loves, and goals, but they also can function more successfully

Assimilation is to remove a community from their inherit language, cultural practices and displacing them from their lands to conform with non-Aboriginal societal models. Assimilation is achieved by removing First Nations from their traditional lifestyle, rejecting their governance and suppressing their basic human rights through the evolvement of colonization.

Many Native Americans opposed the termination and assimilation policies for several reasons. One reason was the fear of a return of the land grab of past and Native Americans forced migration. In New Mexico and Arizona Native American did not have the right to vote, which created a political outcry due to the United States stand on democracy world-wide.

“Big Trouble in Little China” starts with a white American character called Jack Burton, who delivers his cargo to a small town and during some free time plays card games in a Chinese market. After beating everyone at the game, he is proposed a bet by his friend Wang, and wins. Wang, not having enough cash to pay himself, convinced Jack to pick up his girlfriend Miao Yin at the airport, promising after which he would pay what he owed. Unexpectedly, a Chinatown gang called the Lords of Death abducts Miao, because of her green eyes. She becomes essential to being able to revive an ancient Chinese sorcerer Lo Pan and bring him back to the flesh. This marks the beginning of the

Assimilation by any standard is conversion. A type of conversion into another’s culture with new beliefs, morals, and traditions that changes an individual. Forced or willingly done, this act of assimilation is a loss of a person’s identity within his/or her own culture, whether he/or she is African, Native American, Chinese or Latino. However, who says that one must fully assimilate into another culture, taking on another’s entire way of living and committing to those beliefs, ridding oneself of one’s own heritage? In Lee Schweninger’s essay, “Back when I used to be Indian: Native American Authenticity and Postcolonial Discourse,” he acknowledges “the importance of tribal identity, an identity maintained despite and separate from those

Following Indigenous peoples first encounters with Europeans the two-row wampum belt, which was meant to represent the harmonious relationship developed in North America with European settlers was created. This agreement began the first of many treaties that would later serve as the foundation in which Indigenous peoples would unknowingly take their first steps to beginning their long history of exploitation, assimilation and powerlessness within Canada. Through critically analyzing chapter 5 “the Indian Act and Indian Affairs in Canada” within the “Ways of Knowing” textbook, I will explore the intent of the 1876 Indian Act and its following repercussions on the Indigenous peoples it affected.

There are kids that struggle in school because they don’t English and the other kids would make fun of them. Teachers should help the immigrant students to speak English. Children of immigrant think they have to act white just to be accepted. People need to learn English and need to have a High School diploma to get a great job to get good amount of money and be accepted by white people. Children of immigrants often feel they must lose their identity because they would have to adapt to a new culture and will lose their language.

Immigration and assimilation is a divisive topic that has been heavily debated in America ever since we became a country. There are two stories that explore the assimilation issue from different viewpoints’; in Mary Pipher’s story; “The Beautiful Laughing Sisters – An Arrival Story”; provides the viewpoint of immigrants leaving a hostile home for America. Elizabeth Wong details her journey to break with her culture and become Americanized in, “The Struggle to be an all American girl.” and (McWhorter, 2010 pp522-529). At debate today is whether immigrants and their families should blend into American culture even if it means breaking with their past. Once cultures intermingle, they are forever changed.

As the son of immigrant parents, I have always wanted to assimilate into American culture. My parents expected me to excel in everything I do, especially in academics. When report cards came at the end of the quarter, I would be ashamed when my parents saw my grades. Every time I got a B, I could see the disappointment on their faces. I would lock myself in my room and think about how much easier my life would be if I was not Asian. I had always hoped that my parents would congratulate me if I completed something, or showed affection when I needed it. My parent’s merciless emphasis on academic achievement made me submissive to their authority.

There are emotional and legal concerns surrounding whether immigrants should learn to speak English. Domenico Maceri (2009), an award-winning author and foreign language instructor at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria California, states “I never met an immigrant in the United States who needed laws to be reminded that English is necessary to succeed” (par. 9).

a matter of degree, but complete assimilation would cover seven variables: change of cultural patterns to those of the host society; large-scale entrance into cliques, clubs, and institutions of the host society on the primary group level; large-scale intermarriage; development of a sense of peoplehood based exclusively on the host society; absence of prejudice; absence of discrimination; and absence of value and power conflict. This

The basic argument is expressed by the "AICF Fact Sheet on Immigration" is that "assimilation is not working well." This statement reveals the underlying assumption of the writer that American culture is a given to which the immigrants do not add. Rather, American culture is something the immigrants enter and are absorbed in, becoming identical to it. It is something that the immigrants potentially aspire to--for what else could have possible persuaded him/her to become an immigrant in the first place?