Midge Gorman

Web Review

Linda Castro, Litr 4333, 2006

The Native American falls into the minority group, in that they were conquered by their own country. With their economic infrastructure destroyed in the process, and opportunity denied, they fell into a state of despair as they resisted the call to assimilate into the American culture. Their struggle for cultural identity and the will to preserve ethnic heritage has continued to present day.  Native Americans viewed the dominant culture as an enemy about to smite them, and their way of life, from the earth. They have been correct in this assumption, as history is recounted.  The writer makes a good point of this in the following quotation:  “Native Americans were forced from their lands, killed, forced to assimilate (children taken away from them and sent to “white” schools) and then shoved into a remote pocket of land and romanticized by the dominate culture.” [GH]  These original Americans became marginalized to such a degree that their status will always be that of minority and they may eventually become only a legend of what once was.

Sample essay 6, Litr 5733, 2004

Essay 6 says: “The narrative of the American Dream permeates the history of the United States, enticing the foreign-born with its promise of liberty and economic success:  “come to the United States,” the story goes, “The land of the free, and with a little luck and lots of hard work, you too can become a famous movie or rock star, live in a mansion and be driven around by a chauffer—or at the very least “marry, get jobs, buy cars and maybe a house…” (from “Like Mexicans”) or “buy house” (from “Making of A Writer”).  A “fundamental” story of America, The American Dream has “mythic” qualities in its bold, optimistic proportions; yet, like myths, the “dream” can turn out to be too good to be true---an American Nightmare instead.”  Although this may be somewhat overstated, it has merit.  The nightmare comes when arriving immigrants realize there is discrimination against them due to their lack of familiarity with the American culture. Discounting the African American’s forced immigration, New World arrivals must often make choices between assimilating into the dominant culture or remaining apart in complete “otherness”.  This delays their ability to access paths leading to new opportunity and having at least some of those dreams. Usually this weakens in the second generation and by the third generation, American Dreams often become reality.  However, African American immigrants who had been forced out of their own country had a different plight. They did not have the choice of assimilation, but forced labor, marginalized lives, and no choice. Even after many generations, they battle discrimination due to the western civilization’s idea of “The Color Code” values. These discriminatory attitudes spill over to include other cultures whose skin color may be darker than the dominant culture’s. It seems that the darker the skin, the more the discrimination is applied.

Meghan Patterson, Litr 4333, 2003

Myths and superstitions play a huge role in how well immigrants and minorities assimilate into the dominant culture.  These are an integral part of the religion, symbols, attitudes of those old cultures.  Immigrants and minorities cling desperately to these symbols of their heritage, indeed their very beginnings.  Before written words were created in various cultures, history and culture were passed down generations through “talking story”. This was their science, their beliefs, and great wrath could be brought on those who digressed from these “rules”.  As these oral stories passed through the ages, traditions and legends were born. It is these old traditions and legends that are so difficult for first generations to disregard.  Myths and superstitions make up part of the ethnic heritage with which immigrants and minorities identify. 

Conclusion:

Multicultural literature has given me new ideas to examine regarding our dominant culture and attitudes.  Before multicultural studies, the modern thinking was surely that “minority” meant everyone who wasn’t “us”, the white American living in America.  At least, that seems to be the prevailing thought of the general population.  In actuality, multiculturalism defines who we are, it defines this America which is so rich in diversity, style and many different cultures.