LITR 4332 American Minority Literature 2013 Student Midterm Samples midterm assignment #1. Short essay (4-6 paragraphs) on 1 of 2 options option 1b. Favorite term, objective, concept + apply to 1-2 readings

Amanda Newell

Assimilation

            Assimilation in this context is referring to the minority groups merging with the dominant society. Here we are looking at how famous African Americans assimilated to the white American culture. Olaudah, Phillis, and Douglas all view the dominant (American) culture differently. Each will chose a different path to assimilation; some a little more similar than others but still in the end result would be the same.

            When a minority groups assimilate they have to learn the language and culture of the dominant group. Assimilation is generally associated with immigrants coming over to America and wanting to join the American culture. In the case of the African American it was not a voluntary journey to America so they did not have the desire to lose their culture and become Americans like some immigrants do. 

            Being brought over to America in the slave trade, first generations of Africans had no choice in assimilating into the American society; with limitations of course. The Africans brought over were forced to learn the language and some aspects of the culture almost immediately upon arrival.  Some Africans handled this differently. Olaudah Equiano while at first being fearful seems to change over time.

“I could now speak English tolerably well, and I perfectly understood every thing that was said. I now not only felt myself quite easy with these new countrymen, but relished their society and manners. I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had the stronger desire to resemble them; to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners.”

Olaudah went from being fearful of his new world to fully embracing it with open arms. Olaudah’s embrace of the American culture is quite unusual. To learn the language and culture for survival in the dominant society is one thing, but he seems to genuinely want to learn and invest in this new and foreign culture. He completely abandons the culture he grew up with in Africa and embraces the white American culture. While he enjoys learning the language and religion, he still despises the practice of slavery.

            Phillis Wheatley seems to be very similar to Olaudah. Both were brought to America when they were young and gave up their past culture for the new Anglo culture put in front of them. Phillis seems more “thankful” for being shown the dominant culture. In her On Being Brought From Africa to America poem she states “'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,/ Taught my benighted soul to understand/ That there's a God, that there's a Savior too:” She completely embraces her new culture and abandons her past.

            Olaudah’s reaction and acceptance of the America culture is very different from Fredrick Douglas’s reaction. Douglas is born into slavery unlike Olaudah who was sold into slavery and knew a free life. While Douglas does have a desire to embrace the English language, written and spoken. He believes that is “…the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant.” The main reason Douglas wants to master the English language is because he believes having the tool of language will enable him to eventually gain his freedom and the abolishment of slavery. While Douglas does embrace the language he still despises the majority of the culture especially the practice of slavery.

            Each of these African Americans assimilated but in a different way. They had a need to become part of the culture that was thrust upon them but was not made readily available to them due to their status in society. Assimilation in a sense was a necessary tool for survival. Some saw assimilation as a pathway to salvation and some saw it as a necessary evil in order to best their master’s at their own game. Though the paths taken may have been different it really does not matter as long as the end goal made the lives of each of these people better. No two persons will tackle a problem the same way, be it a simple matter or one of grand design. The African Americans who had to assimilate into the Anglo culture from slavery had an uphill battle and to have done so at all with their dignity intact is a miracle.