Often America is referred to as “The large melting pot.” The idea that the United States is a land of opportunity, where anyone can come and blend into a new breed that is uniquely American. However, the cultural diversity in America is clearly evident, from physical characteristics to different religious beliefs and customs. As minorities immigrate to America and attempt to assimilate into society, they are forced to live a pluralistic lifestyle of blending with the current society, while struggling to maintain their heritage and identity “Minority individuals must learn to function in two environments: their own culture and that of the mainstream society” (de Anda, 1984: p101). There are some who successfully leave their traditional beliefs
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The following examines the strengths and weaknesses of the melting pot theory by looking at intermarriages, religion, and assimilation process of different ethnic groups to see if America is truly a “melting pot”. One of the first indicators that amalgamation occurs within the US is the increasing rate of interracial marriages “In 2010, approximately 4 percent of all marriages in the continental United States were interracial, compared to1.3 percent in 1980.” (Parrillo, 2014: p524). As different ethnic groups marry outside of their race, new order and traditions are established. Instead of being identified by their ethnicity, they become known as Americans, while their race is simply part of their ancestral heritage “’Hispanic American’ may be no more a distinctly visible ethnic category, but rather one similar to today’s Italian, Polish, or Slavic identities, a marker of …show more content…
Originally the colonies adhered to mostly protestant beliefs and professed to a Christian faith. The idea that all nations would come to America and conform to one religion was strongly believed as evident in Israel Zangwill’s quote “Where all races and nations come to worship and look back, compared with the glory of America, where all races and nations come to labor and look forward” (Parrillo, 2014: p 107). Today, however, minority groups practice a variety of different religious customs and beliefs, breaking up the mainstream conformity of Christianity into four different predominant faiths “From a mostly Protestant nation in its early history, the United States has become a land of four major faiths: Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, with Hinduism and other non-Western religions increasing as well” (Parrillo, 2014: p 107). This is one sense where the “melting pot” theory did emerge as new religious customs begin to take place. While other ethnic traits disappeared and conformed to the modern culture, religion became a source of personal identity and community for many minority groups “For many people, especially in the lowest socioeconomic class regardless of their racial or ethnic background, religion serves as an emotional escape from the harsh realities of everyday life” (Parrillo, 2014: p352). The splitting from the typical protestant
The following examines the strengths and weaknesses of the melting pot theory by looking at intermarriages, religion, and assimilation process of different ethnic groups to see if America is truly a “melting pot”. One of the first indicators that amalgamation occurs within the US is the increasing rate of interracial marriages “In 2010, approximately 4 percent of all marriages in the continental United States were interracial, compared to1.3 percent in 1980.” (Parrillo, 2014: p524). As different ethnic groups marry outside of their race, new order and traditions are established. Instead of being identified by their ethnicity, they become known as Americans, while their race is simply part of their ancestral heritage “’Hispanic American’ may be no more a distinctly visible ethnic category, but rather one similar to today’s Italian, Polish, or Slavic identities, a marker of …show more content…
Originally the colonies adhered to mostly protestant beliefs and professed to a Christian faith. The idea that all nations would come to America and conform to one religion was strongly believed as evident in Israel Zangwill’s quote “Where all races and nations come to worship and look back, compared with the glory of America, where all races and nations come to labor and look forward” (Parrillo, 2014: p 107). Today, however, minority groups practice a variety of different religious customs and beliefs, breaking up the mainstream conformity of Christianity into four different predominant faiths “From a mostly Protestant nation in its early history, the United States has become a land of four major faiths: Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, with Hinduism and other non-Western religions increasing as well” (Parrillo, 2014: p 107). This is one sense where the “melting pot” theory did emerge as new religious customs begin to take place. While other ethnic traits disappeared and conformed to the modern culture, religion became a source of personal identity and community for many minority groups “For many people, especially in the lowest socioeconomic class regardless of their racial or ethnic background, religion serves as an emotional escape from the harsh realities of everyday life” (Parrillo, 2014: p352). The splitting from the typical protestant