Though most people fail to understand, there are defining factors when identifying an immigrant and a minority. Within these two groups, other cultures fall between them and it can be difficult to distinguish which group they most closely relate to. Immigrants are those who have chosen to come to America in search of the “American Dream.” They often assimilate to the dominant culture quickly and find it easier to release their traditional culture. Minorities, on the other hand, are those who have unwillingly been brought to America. They often find the “American Nightmare” rather than the “America Dream” due to the lack of acceptance and discrimination that they face from the dominant culture. Minorities tend to be resistant of assimilation and hold on to their culture and beliefs. New World immigrants are those who cross both borders of immigrant and minority. They have come to America only to better themselves financially until they are comfortable enough to return to their country or because the land they live on was once considered another territory that Americans later claimed. Overall, differences reside among each group which separates them from the America dominant culture.

            To begin, immigrants have chosen to migrate to America and have willingly left their homes behind. They are in search of the “American Dream.” In order to reach their American cultural goals, these immigrants feel they must assimilate to the dominant culture by learning the basic traditions that the American culture practices as well as learning the common language of English. For example, in “The English Lesson,” William convinces Lali to learn English by taking a course over it. He explains to her that this will help them in their American life and things will become easier for them. This shows their attempt to assimilate to the dominant culture. Most students in William and Lali’s class explain that they are in this course for the same reasons and all wish to grasp the “American Dream.” The narrator in “Soap and Water” also wishes to achieve this goal when she decides that she wants to attend college. The narrator exclaims, “I can go to college! There I shall learn to express myself, to voice my thoughts.” Unfortunately, she finds the “American Nightmare” quicker than she achieves the “American Dream.” She is discriminated against due to her appearance. The fact that she works hard on her school work as well as in her job is never taken into account; instead, she is only looked down upon due to her lack of grooming. She is never treated as an equal student, only as a dirty outsider.

            The practices of discrimination fall heavier upon the minority cultures. Minorities tend to refer to African Americans as well as Native Americans. African Americans were forced to join America and were placed well beneath the dominant culture. Though they experience the same separation that the immigrants face, they do not accept assimilation as easily as the other group; instead, they tend to hold on to their traditions and cultures because they do not wish to become a part of the dominant group. For example, in “The Lesson,” a group of minority children are taken outside of their community only to experience the daily expenses of the dominant culture. It is hard for the children to understand why any person would pay such a high price for a toy that can be made in less than one dollar. The trip teaches them the difference in the way of living between them and the dominant culture. They immediately begin to feel embarrassment after entering the toy store because they know the items are those that they cannot afford as easily as the people who buy them on a daily basis. Furthermore, Native Americans were stripped of their land and were confined to smaller areas within the U.S. This culture has tried to hold on to their traditions as closely as possible. The dominant culture has continuously tried to force their culture upon the Native Americans such as the priest did in “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.” After Teofilo passes away, his family wants nothing more than to bury him by their own traditions. It is important to them that water is poured over Teofilo’s grave. They believe that by giving him water, he will send them rain clouds for their crops. When Leon requests that holy water be poured over Teofilo’s grave, the priest is persistent of giving him a Christian burial. Though the family deeply wants water placed on Teofilo’s grave, they are willing to give up the idea rather than provide him with a burial that is outside of their culture. Minorities tend to only give in to the dominant culture when they have no other choices within their own traditions.

            It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the differences between immigrants and minorities which often leads to the New World immigrant cultures. For example, Mexican Americans can be considered as both an immigrant and a minority. They are considered immigrants when they decide to enter America in order to work to meet their financial needs so they can soon return to their original homes. On the other hand, some Mexican Americans are considered to be among the minority groups because the land in southern parts of the U.S. was once their land. After Americans claimed this territory, the Mexican Americans chose to remain in their homes and soon became surrounded by the dominant culture. Their land was forced to be American soil, thus turning them to minorities. In “Barbie Q,” the young Mexican American girls accept the blonde haired, blue eyed, white Barbie dolls and want nothing more than to collect as many as they can. This shows their willingness to assimilate to the dominant culture which places them more among the immigrant culture. However, in “El Patron,” Senor Martinez cannot understand why his son will not continue to live the life of the “American Dream.” Instead, his son resists the life of the dominant culture and chooses not to assimilate as easily as his father has. This shows the conflict of a family placed between being an immigrant and a minority.

            The dominant culture assumes that the immigrants and minorities will automatically assimilate to their own traditions and often expect others to release their culture and join the dominant. Fortunately, today, Americans have learned to join each other’s cultures and are more accepting of traditions. Most communities have moved towards interracial marriages which fall into the idea of the melting pot. The color code is quickly fading away and America is becoming a home for all ethnicities rather than only a home for the white culture.

            Overall, immigrants and minorities have faced and still face the terrors of discrimination, the obstacles and dreading of assimilation, and the confusion of being a New World immigrant. These groups have achieved the “American Dream” and have faced the “American Nightmare.” Through it all, the immigrant, minority, New World immigrant, and dominant culture have learned to live as one within the U.S. and are all trying to live a life of tradition and value.

[Amanda]