Zadie Smith's Speaking In Tongues

Today, America is known worldwide for its plentiful opportunities that are offered for people from all backgrounds and ethnic groups. The universal term of America being referred to as a “melting pot” has been bestowed upon the country, giving many people a new opportunity to assimilate towards the mainstream American society and in return, will receive equal treatment. In regards to the diversity of America, we appreciate when someone can “speak in tongues” (Smith 252). Zadie Smith, author of “Speaking in Tongues,” writes about the benefits of being able to talk in many different tongues to speak for the entirety of people, even if they are not of the same kind of people. On the other hand, however, Kenji Yoshino, author of “Covering: The …show more content…
He can change “his speech to fit the audience, who is not of the people” (253). Smith is stating that albeit Obama can’t represent every person racially, he’s able to fit his speech to fit the audience of all types. Smith states regarding about those who believed Obama’s trait was more of a red flag to be aware of, “the single-voiced Obamanation crowd…waiting obsessively for [Obama’s] mask to slip” (252). Many people of the single-voiced Obamanation would argue that Obama is covering his authenticity and is simply trying to be someone who he is not. Many of those single voiced people felt skeptical about Obama because he was able to speak in many different tongues, they thought that he might just be a fraud and trying to cover up his true side. However, Obama’s ability to speak in different tongues leaves him at the advantage because in today’s American “melting pot” society, he is able conform his speech to the diversity of the people and relate without losing his true identity. People from different cultures learn to become more accepting when they see someone is able to understand their culture and sometimes, that understanding can be expressed through tongues. In all, we should praise the fact that being able to speak in many different tongues is essential, especially in such a diverse culture like …show more content…
If people from different cultures all come into a melting pot society in America and didn’t attempt to assimilate to a specific group, we would see many more “balkanized groups” (Yoshino 294). People would all bring their traditions from their native culture that may not coincide with those other cultures. Therefore, the differences would just set all groups with barriers in between them, only portraying the differences among the groups. However, with assimilation, we can bring about unity in groups because they can focus on all the characteristics they aspire to have in common rather than being separated by immutable traits. Immutable traits-or traits that cannot be changed- can be disregarded and assimilation can lead to a more accepting and unified group, regardless of age, skin color, or ethnic background. When assimilating to a new group, it also makes you more open minded. Assimilating means also taking up the culture’s traditions or what is routine for them. When it comes to the entire world, we are all very different and unique and have many different perspectives on the same situations. It has become so traditional in some cultures that they may feel convinced that it must always be true. Simply assimilating to another group can help you see from a perspective you might’ve never thought. For example, whereas in a patriarchal society, some may believe it always has to