The American WASP- A Master Race? Was written by Sal Osio and it explained a major problem with the theory and book “The Hispanic Challenge” written by Samuel Huntington. Sal Osio brings to the forefront the negative thoughts that Huntington believes the Hispanich Americans are a threat to the country. In this paper I will attempt to explain the theory that Samuel Huntington had about minority/immigrant groups, Sal Osio’s counter argument to his theory, and how Gordon Allport’s theory of intergroup contact can be connected to Samuel Huntington writings. To be explored also is how Samuel Huntington’s theory is neither new nor old and is still being implored today by many in the disguise of patriotism. First to be discussed is Samuel Huntington’s
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Osio explains that an America without the melting pot of cultures would not be the America Huntington know either. Osio showed that while Huntington thinks the Hispanic demographic has completely separated itself; that most have and that it has been generation by generation that the changes have taken effect. Most Hispanic American now speak English and prefer it to Spanish. Osio brings up that Huntington is confused about the difference between “assimilation” and “acculturation”. Huntington wants assimilation, which is when a culture replaces all its customs for the dominate. Most cultures do not assimilate instantly the acculturate which is what we see in the United States. Acculturation is when a culture keeps its cultural traits while adopting complimentary traits from the dominate. (Osio, n.d.) Can we reduce prejudice or forms of xenophobia? There are many theories on how to do just that but the can be in turn a way to advance the agenda of the WASP America as suggested by Huntington. Gordon Allport’s theory of intergroup contact is one of them. Before we can get into how Allport’s theory and how it can be linked to what Huntington says, we must understand what Allport’s contact theory …show more content…
Working towards a common goal is also part of the contact theory. When a group has to rely on its members to achieve their goal or desired results it may also help ease tension between the members. The last thing is that there can’t be social laws or rules that limit, forbid, or suggest against the contact between the groups such as segregation. While these criteria stated above are ways that can increase the success of a contact scenario but that is not always the case (Everett,
Osio explains that an America without the melting pot of cultures would not be the America Huntington know either. Osio showed that while Huntington thinks the Hispanic demographic has completely separated itself; that most have and that it has been generation by generation that the changes have taken effect. Most Hispanic American now speak English and prefer it to Spanish. Osio brings up that Huntington is confused about the difference between “assimilation” and “acculturation”. Huntington wants assimilation, which is when a culture replaces all its customs for the dominate. Most cultures do not assimilate instantly the acculturate which is what we see in the United States. Acculturation is when a culture keeps its cultural traits while adopting complimentary traits from the dominate. (Osio, n.d.) Can we reduce prejudice or forms of xenophobia? There are many theories on how to do just that but the can be in turn a way to advance the agenda of the WASP America as suggested by Huntington. Gordon Allport’s theory of intergroup contact is one of them. Before we can get into how Allport’s theory and how it can be linked to what Huntington says, we must understand what Allport’s contact theory …show more content…
Working towards a common goal is also part of the contact theory. When a group has to rely on its members to achieve their goal or desired results it may also help ease tension between the members. The last thing is that there can’t be social laws or rules that limit, forbid, or suggest against the contact between the groups such as segregation. While these criteria stated above are ways that can increase the success of a contact scenario but that is not always the case (Everett,