The United States is often perceived as a melting pot for all ethnicities to have equal opportunities for success and wealth. The extent in which this total equality has been implemented into actual reality is rather sparse. As history supports, ethnicity and race are still associated with social and economic oppression and abuse. For members of the population to maintain the ancient idea that America is primarily a white country significantly causes new generations of Americans to wrongly regard and negatively perceive the next wave of immigrants. According to Lillian Rubin’s article “Is This a White Country or What?”, many American citizens are opposed to immigration, even though they too come from immigrant families.
When Tim Walsh asked Rubin, “is this a white country or what?”, it sparked a cross examination on what qualifies an American, and how that is governed through immigration. One’s personal viewpoint on the concept of race and ethnicity subsequently impacts their views on immigration. From Rubin’s various case studies, it appears many Americans are facing an underlying fear that “white people will be the minority” (Rubin 199). The increase in immigrants within the United States is somehow lessening the significant reputation of white Americans. …show more content…
The Irish were seen as “unclean, immoral and dangerously in thrall to a bizarre religion” and “prone to violence” (Behrens 3). In his article, “It’s About Immigrants, Not Irishness”, Peter Behrens questions how people “with Irish surnames” can use inappropriate slurs to describe Mexican or Central American immigrants, when their own families faced similar abuse as immigrants to the United States (Behrens 3). Similar to what Rubin claims, Behrens suggests that cultural assimilation is never approved of during the process, but only after the population is accepted and
When Tim Walsh asked Rubin, “is this a white country or what?”, it sparked a cross examination on what qualifies an American, and how that is governed through immigration. One’s personal viewpoint on the concept of race and ethnicity subsequently impacts their views on immigration. From Rubin’s various case studies, it appears many Americans are facing an underlying fear that “white people will be the minority” (Rubin 199). The increase in immigrants within the United States is somehow lessening the significant reputation of white Americans. …show more content…
The Irish were seen as “unclean, immoral and dangerously in thrall to a bizarre religion” and “prone to violence” (Behrens 3). In his article, “It’s About Immigrants, Not Irishness”, Peter Behrens questions how people “with Irish surnames” can use inappropriate slurs to describe Mexican or Central American immigrants, when their own families faced similar abuse as immigrants to the United States (Behrens 3). Similar to what Rubin claims, Behrens suggests that cultural assimilation is never approved of during the process, but only after the population is accepted and