Do We Need a Common Identity?

Introduction

Multiculturalism is a concept that defines how different and multiple ethnic cultures shape the social and organizational level by identifying the demographic set-up of a country. Multiculturalism involves giving people from different nations, religious backgrounds, and traditions equal status in society. The American identity is defined by the components of multiculturalism and assimilation as argued by Lawrence Auster and Stephen Stenberg. Stenberg contends that the concept of assimilation will shape the American Identity and borrows from the sociologist Robert Part (Alba 1430). Lawrence Auster, on the other hand, argues that the concept of multiculturalism that involves giving people equal status is premised on an incorrect assumption and that it is gradually eradicating the European culture (Akhtar 136). This essay, therefore, seeks to address how the concept of assimilation and immigration has shaped American identity. It further discusses the concerns raised by Auster's argument on diversity and multiculturalism and Steinberg's ideas on assimilation.

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American identity has been shaped by assimilation, and this concept will continue to develop the status of the future. For instance, during the 1st century, 70% of Chicago's population consisted of immigrants that were divided into different cultural and ethnic groups, and this population consisted of Jews, Poles, Italians, Ukrainians, and Hungarians among others (Kivisto 12). The ethnic groups formed from these diverse cultural diverse groups did not want to differentiate themselves from the American society but instead assimilated themselves with the American culture. The ethnic groups enhanced the smooth assimilation of the immigrants with the perception by preparing them to fit with the next generation by forming one society. The ethnic group was considered the binding factor that enhanced assimilation of the immigrants with the American culture to build the American community. The immigrants who assimilated with American identity are considered a group of people who have forgotten their original lands and have moved far away from their cultures to adapt to American culture and life. The assimilation process is considered irreversible, and there is no turning back (Kivisto 14).

Steinberg argues that the process of assimilation continually occurs across generations and the European culture has embraced the concept of assimilation through the intermarriages across the diverse ethnic groups (Alba 1431). Research conducted by Richard Alba, a sociologist back in the year 1990 confirms this notion that different ethnic groups are intermarrying every single day. This reinforces the view that assimilation is a big melting pot in which immigrants obliviously descended into (Alba 1432). Some sociologists argue that assimilation only happened between the whites or people of color such as Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Steinberg, on the other hand, believes that assimilation has happened between different ethnic groups and societies in different ways.

Steinberg further claims that assimilation in modern society is much easier compared to the early forms of assimilation because of the globalization and advancement in technology between the diverse racial societies. Even though the melting point has been inclusive of everybody, especially the people of color such as the whites, the experience has not been the same for the African American people. Steinberg illustrates that eventually African American people will find their way into the melting pot through assimilation, but this will only be enhanced when the atrocities and inequalities against them are resolved (Alba 1435). There is a need to change and restructure the American systems to include the African American into the big melting pot.

Lawrence Auster, however, views multiculturalism and diversity as the main factors that lead to the eradication of the American identity and acts as a system of unprecedented levels of immigration to the United States (Akhtar 138). Auster argues that multiculturalism is a political aimed movement that seeks to replace the individual rights with group rights with it effects openly seen in the court systems, education systems, and private and public employment practices (Akhtar 140). Auster claims that the cultural diversity of the immigrant groups is very different from the mainstream American cultures, and he warns that diversity and multiculturalism promote these group differences and advice that assimilation should be adopted. Auster argues that the variety of cultures threatens the integration of the African American and that the dilution of western civilization will do more harm to the African American society (Akhtar 142). Auster is concerned that accepting multiculturalism in the system of a curriculum of inclusion teaches children that all cultures formed the American heritage, which is untrue.

Auster explains that the main idea behind multiculturalism is to eradicate the already existing and established European-based culture and norms of the United States society. Auster explains that the concepts of multiculturalism promote an egalitarian society in America which is giving rise to changes experienced in modern socio-economic development. Auster gives an example of the Italian-Catholics who are moving into the non-Western countries, such as the Muslim Middle East and demands that the host country abolish its religion and practices and embrace the concept of multiculturalism (Akhtar 150). The Catholics are propagating this agenda claiming that they are not destroying any religion or a way of life of the Muslim society, but instead they are just enriching their faith and cultures. The inclusion of the minority culture is merely throwing it into a melting pot of a vast majority culture with no right to exist.

Lawrence Auster further claims that multiculturalism and diversity mean accepting the newcomer's cultural differences and cultural diversity because the newcomers are expected to fit and correctly bond into the existing society. Some of the changes experienced in a multicultural and diverse community are the establishment of the bilingual education that covers the diversity of the newcomers. For instance, to enhance the equal opportunity of Latinos in America, there is an establishment of schools for non-English speaking communities, and this also helped preserve and transmit the Spanish language as the official language in the country (Akhtar 151).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the argument between Steinberg and Auster illustrate how the multiculturalism, diversity, and assimilation are inevitable components of the American identity. Steinberg thinks that assimilation is inevitable and it is bound to occur sometime in the future of America, while Auster argues that diversity and multiculturalism have gained popularity in the American systems such as education and court systems and they attack the European-based culture. Steinberg explains that assimilation has been and will continue to form the basis of the American culture because of the daily intermarriage between different people of different colors. Steinberg claims that in the future, native languages will be forgotten and English will be the primary language between these diverse ethnic groups. Of the two arguments, Steinberg's view of assimilation is more realistic because the American people are accepting assimilation at different levels, however; it is still frustrating for the African American people to fit in Steinberg's concept of the melting pot because of the atrocities and injustice that they experience. For assimilation to be effective there is need to resolve the prejudices against the African American people.

Works Cited

Akhtar, Salman. "The mental pain of minorities." British Journal of Psychotherapy 30.2 (2014): 136-153.

Alba, Richard. "Continuities in assimilation." Ethnic and Racial Studies 40.9 (2017): 1430-1437.

Kivisto, Peter. "The revival of assimilation in historical perspective." Incorporating Diversity. Routledge, 2015. 11-38.