Objective 3. To compare and contrast the immigrant narrative with the minority narrative—or, American Dream versus American Nightmare:

Differences between immigrants and minorities:

The two least-assimilated minority groups, African Americans and Native Americans, were not immigrants.

• Native Americans were already here, and immigration was the “American Nightmare” instead of the American Dream.
   

• African Americans, unlike traditional immigrants, did not choose to come to America, but were forced; instead of opportunity, they found slavery.

These differences between immigrant and minority histories lead to different “social contracts.”

Origins and choice:

• Since immigrants voluntarily chose to come to America, they are expected to conform to the American Dream story of freedom and opportunity.
   

• Minorities did not freely choose the American Dream and may speak of exploitation instead of opportunity.

Assimilation or resistance:

• Immigrants typically assimilate and lose their ethnic identity within 1-3 generations.
   

• Minorities remain distinct or maintain distinct communities.
   

• Immigrants sometimes measure themselves against or distance themselves from minorities as a means of assimilating to the dominant culture.
   

• For historical, cultural, or color-code reasons, however, some immigrants (especially New World immigrants) risk “downward assimilation”: instead of climbing the dominant culture's educational-economic ladder , any ethnic group (including whites) may assert difference by choosing separatism, tradition, male privilege, separate language, and other behaviors that resist assimilation and advancement.

Overlap between immigrant and minority identities:

• Immigrants may experience “minority” status in early generations.
   

• Immigrants may suffer discrimination and marginalization by the dominant culture on account of racial and cultural differences as long as those differences are visible or audible.
   

• With few exceptions, the only immigrants who are treated as minorities are those who are not yet assimilated.