America a Melting Pot

America a Melting Pot

America a Melting Pot

Although the term melting pot may be applied to many countries in the world, such as Brazil, Bangladesh or even France, mostly referring to increased level of mixed race and culture, it is predominantly used with reference to USA and creation of the American nation, as a distinct “new breed of people” amalgamated from many various groups of immigrants. As such it is closely linked to the process of Americanisation. The theory of melting pot has been criticised both as unrealistic and racist, because it focused on the Western heritage and excluded non-European immigrants. Also, despite its proclaimed “melting” character its results have been assimilations. Decades ago America was given the nickname of Melting Pot (Gazer, Nathan and Patrick, 2000). With all the different ethnic groups pouring in, there was beginning a mix of the world that could not be found elsewhere. The world was finding a place to mix and mingle and learning to get along.

Though called a Melting Pot, it truly wasn't one at that time. Yes, everyone was coming and finding themselves for living in the same cities and working for the same companies. Yet, everyone was still trying to stay separate. Segregation in the 1950's was nothing new. Segregation began a long time before that and even before America was born. But in the young country, ethnic groups continued to create their own version of home. They named towns, streets, and counties after their motherlands. All the Italians lived in the same neighborhood. All the Spanish had their area. The Greeks had theirs. The Irish had theirs. The Chinese created their version of China. Though all were coming to America, they were never leaving their homeland behind. This continued on decade after decade. “Wars” were fought as someone crossed the line from one neighborhood to another. The Irish stuck together in this land. The Hungarians stuck together. The Japanese stuck together. There was very little melting together. The Native Americans were clustered in resource pour reservations. Everyone was mixing like oil and water. Those that never knew the homeland could not understand this territorial lifestyle. Yes, they followed it. But in their hearts they were American and were slowly letting go of the land their parents and grandparents came from. They began to create their own customs and traditions. Shockingly for that time, that included marrying someone from ...