“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
His beliefs on immigration, as demonstrated above, was that there was room in America for new immigrants, but those arriving immigrant populations, upon touching down on these shores, were to completely forgo their former national identities, and fully embrace their new home in language, culture, identity, and spirit. Some would consider the above beliefs prejudice towards immigrants. Yet, is it really unfair to require loyalty in exchange for the better opportunities immigrants arrive to seek?
Cultural Assimilation is defined as; “process by which a person or a group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group”. However, this is a clean, well defined definition, and things rarely ever remain-- or even begin-- as well defined when concerning humanity, and life. Cultural Assimilation is a term that is frequently used, but appears either little understood, and also holding many different definitions depending on the individual, or group that is chanting it (Skerry, P. 2000, March 1).
Dr. Peter Salins readily points out that the problems of immigration is not one of newcomers, but instead newcomers that refuse to melt into the culture they are attempting to be apart of. He goes on to argue that there are three criteria, if met, would cause the U.S at large to more openly embrace these new arrivals. The first is learning, and accepting U.S English as the national language. The second, they should live by the Protestant work ethic, a belief of self-reliance, hard-work, and morally upright behavior. The third, is to visibly, and enthusiastically take pride in America's liberal democratic and egalitarian principals (Salins, P. 1998, March 1)
If one feels, behaves, and believes in America, are they not American? Perhaps it is not nearly as simple as blending in.
The arguments against the idea of Cultural Assimilation are varied. Immigrant community leaders, advocates, and many more liberal thinkers argue that there is little use in immigration for “people of color” because assimilation hardly ever guarantees acceptance into the mainstream culture of the U.S Skerry, P. 2000, March 1) .
The Cherokees, who lived in Georgia during the 1800s, built Angelo-American style schools, churches, and homes, founded a newspaper, changed the way they dressed, and adopted English. This tribe even went as far to have slaves. However, their attempts at assimilation were repaid with an incident remembered as “the Trail of Tears”, when they were forcefully removed from their land (White, R. 1992) and forced into a literal death march.
African-Americans, especially throughout the 50's, used a substance known as Conk to straighten their hair (Untangling Black Hair. 2001), or sought ways to permanently lighten their skin (Why the obsession with lighter skin? 2014, February 20). Chinese, and Japanese immigrants frequently adopted more Angelo-America sounding names, and also the English language. However, all such attempts were seen with bemusement at best, or met with outright ridicule, and animosity at worst. Their goals to be more Angelo-American did not protect either of the above, or many other populations from racial slurs, violence, segregation, or injustice. It can be rightfully argued that these people willingly gave up their traditions, language, and culture, and were rewarded with nothing but further scorn.
In the end it does not matter how much wants to belong, if the club, culture, population, or country does not want them. Becoming American is not solely the responsibility of the immigrant, as their efforts should be met with hospitality. Without the latter such strife will always remain.
Reference
1.White, R. (1992).
Trail of Tears. Retrieved June 21, 2015, from
http://www.powersource.com/cocinc/history/trail.htm
2.Skerry, P. (2000,
March 1). Do We Really Want Immigrants to Assimilate? Retrieved June
21, 2015, from
http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2000/03/immigration-skerry
3.Untangling Black
Hair. (2001). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CEsQFjAJ&url=http://understandingblackhair.com/our-history/&ei=2xGHVdezFYHboATJvovgDQ&usg=AFQjCNFNtmS_N2wERBPhWpBIg4C2Lxsivw
4.Why the obsession
with lighter skin? (2014, February 20). Retrieved June 21, 2015.
5.Salins, P. (1998,
March 1). Assimilation, American Style by Peter D. Salins. Retrieved
June 21, 2015, from
http://fee.org/freeman/detail/assimilation-american-style-by-peter-d-salins
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