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2019 Midterm2
(assignment) |
LITR 4340
 American Immigrant Literature Model Assignments |
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Heidi Kreeger
The Tale of Two Countries
When studying American immigrants and minorities it quickly becomes clear that
America offers a very different experience to different people. Most immigrant
families or individuals who have been here long enough to assimilate are viewed
as either a part of the dominant culture, or as one of ‘the others’. If you are
one of ‘the others’ you often get the short end of the stick, and if you are
part of the dominant culture you receive the benefits society has to offer. But
what requirements other than ‘being white’ must be met to be included in the
dominant culture? This is a strange and perplexing phenomenon to me and I
enjoyed looking into some of the insights of my peers who questioned the reasons
and definitions behind the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’.
I really began to focus on this topic after reading a 2018 essay by Greg Bellomy
in which he casually asserted that “both Native
Americans and black Americans have had traditionally less access to and
representation in the American government and economy (plainly visible through
Jim Crow laws and the Department of the Interior).” While I had learned a
decent amount in school about Jim Crow laws I was pretty ignorant on the
Department’s role in systematic oppression. From what I have since learned most
of the fault lies in how Native Americans have been treated in terms of
resources and the lack of diversity within the department itself. But this bold
parenthetical statement sums up some harsh truths on how this country treats
minorities, and those they consider ‘others’.
While out in the ‘real world’ it can be difficult to get anyone to describe what
our dominant culture actually is. Particularly because there is an
association there with ‘whiteness’ and a lot of what drives our dominant culture
are contributions from people of color. Defining ‘whiteness’ can do a lot then
to help in our understanding and Amber Boone attempts to do just that in her
2016 research essay proposal. In it she cites Peter Kolchin, who says that
“‘whiteness’ does not imply a study of race, but rather, one that examines the
socioeconomic factors that ‘whiteness’ imposes upon others; thereby forming the
dominant culture.”
I was fascinated by this concept and mind expanding implications of what makes
an individual part of the dominant culture.
I particularly enjoyed her bringing up in her full essay that she questions why
her half black half white cousins are considered solely black, when her half
Native American half white boyfriend is considered solely white. I myself am
half Korean and half white and for most of my childhood I only identified with
being Korean. Why is that? Is it because you are identified by that which makes
you “different” or “non-white” and this is more clearly visible with black and
Asian individuals?
Greg Bellomy also picks up on the blended line between ‘whiteness’ and the
dominant culture in his essay “Gumbo Buffet” when he says that “As a Houstonian
for over a decade and a lifelong Texan, [he]
also feel[s] that Hispanic identity constitutes some part of what it means to be
from Texas.” As a fellow Texan I can confirm his experience and agree with my
own but Texas is also considered to be about as ‘white America’ as it gets. This
juxtaposition is just another example of how the dominant culture and ‘the
others’ blend.
What is the proverbial golden ticket into the dominant culture then? I find it
difficult to believe that any blueprint could be made or definition offered that
completely outlines what our dominant culture is and I believe a person’s
inclusion in it is a uniquely personal journey. When concluding her research
essay Amber Boone “wonder[s] what [the dominant] culture would truly be if the
label “white” was cast aside. Perhaps we would simply be a nation of immigrants,
each with our own unique, rich cultural history.” This sentiment perfectly
characterizes my inability to create such a definition and my hope that in the
future systematic oppression resulting in ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-nots’ will be
eradicated.
