Is the US truly a "nation of immgrants" as many proclaim it to be?

Question

How can this be true for Blacks when we have no other heritage, culture, language, religion, or anything else other than that of America's?

Answer 1

I think I understand where you are coming from. Everyone, even the ancestors of the American Indians came here from another place. However, unlike other Americans, the majority of blacks are not descended from people who came voluntarily but were brought by force. Unlike other immigrants, the slaves and their descendants were not allowed to maintain their culture but rather built a new culture in America, inventing among other things a variety of cultural forms, including but not limited to, ragtime, jazz, and blues, their own form of religious worship, their own forms of speech, dress, and literature. Unlike the American Indians who had white cultural norms imposed on them but later found ways to express their original values, the descendants of slaves have no way to even find out about their African heritage, most don't even know what part of Africa to look at.

Answer 2

The United States became great due to the influx of the first immigrants. As the birth rate for people born here rose, the United States became a nations that descended primarily from immgrants who settled here many years ago. People who were born here are no longer immigrants but are native American, some of us sixth and seventh generation natives.
Immigrants came to America seeking freedom of religion and freedom of speech. After the World Wars and the Korean War and other wars, the soverignty and the threat of people coming into the country for illicit purposes or to create havoc and insurrection caused immigration laws to be passed. Had those laws been enforced, we might not have the problems we are having today. Other countries are also grappling with the immigration problem. Australia, France, and others whose Muslim immigrants are now trying to exert their religious ideals on the entire nations are having to tell the Muslims to abide by the law or get out. Here in the USA the Muslims are using the Catholics to get their strong foothold and once they've gained that foothold, they'll do the same thing here. Don't shoot the messenger -- Wake up and smell the coffee.

Answer 3

Yes, it is. Just because your ancestors were forced to come here doesn't make you a "non-immigrant." By the way, other races have been sold into slavery to get to this country too, not just blacks, so don't play the race card. The point is, we have an American culture here - not European, Asian, or African. We are a mix of everything.

In addition, someone else stated that Native Americans (aka Indians) are the only people here who did not immigrate here. Apparently he didn't go to history class, because they came across Alaska when it was frozen over some thousands of years ago - so they aren't "native" either.

Answer 4

We are a nation of legal immigrants in the majority of people and our ancestors. Mine came from Norway. Blacks have a great culture (1940 - 90's) and incredible history of perseverance, of fighting for and getting equality and for getting educated and joining the middle and upper classes in this American culture. Your language is English here but it may be Swahili in that part of the globe, etc., just as mine. Had my grandparents not left Norway for America I would be speaking Norwegian and English. Also, millions of blacks have and are immigrating into the U.S. from Africa and the Island nations, etc. I have nothing but great respect for black history, culture and strength. Plus, you people are among the best looking and sharpest people on the planet. Stop complaining.

Answer 5

This is what Ted Wansley has said about "America Is a Nation of Immigrants — White Immigrants" :-
President Bush recently referred to America as a “nation of immigrants” as he proposed opening the floodgates to even more Mexican coolies in his recent attempt to bolster support amongst 'Hispanic' voters.The "nation of immigrants" catchphrase is as misleading as the related slogan “America was founded on diversity.” Until 1965, American immigration laws explicitly protected America from diversity. And that was when the U.S. really was great.According to the writings of Benjamin Franklin, the British-American colonies were comprised of three ethnic groups of approximately equal size: English, German, and Irish.The American colonists were, culturally and genetically, virtually clones of these groups.

Answer 6

Yes we are. Our culture is really a smogasboard of ideals taken from many of our host nations. We are one of the few nations who can proudly proclaim two heritages at once and not be treated differently. Even for blacks many trace a lot of thier cultural ideals from African culture.

Answer 7

There is no question about it, The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Blacks did come from Africa. Just because they were brought here against their will and can't trace their heritage doesn't mean they are not immigrants in a way. Many white people cannot trace their heritage beyond this country, but they are still descendants of immigrants.

Answer 8

There is a difference between US being a nation of immigrants who entered legally and those who entered illegally after the American Constitution was created. Sure there are Americans born to the illegal lawbreakers. Not that the children of the illegals don't seem to carry an inferiority complex about how they got here... all you have to do is listen to their silly response in stating their case of how they are are here today. Looks like they do carry a heavy chip on their shoulders! You don't hear children of legal immigrants really coming forward - unless probably representing some dirty corporations/businesses or are whoring to taking advantage of illegal aliens' service - to make real firm cases for illegals here. Why are busineeses using illegals in handling America's food without being checked for possible contageous cases of diseases? All it takes is for a TB or small-pox carrier to kill more American citizens than the lives lost during 9/11!

I enjoy watching Lou Dobbs debate all those illegal alien supporters. Boy, does he make his opponents to insipid defenses and often makes them look restless, eyes blinking ferrociously, and seemingly uncomfortable in their seats. Just watch them frolicking around in their seats as they make their defense againt Dobbs! Great entertainment!

Looks like the organizers of illegal aliens' cause/marches are determined to distract Americans from bigger issues, like the war in Iraq and the dangers being faced by our real Americans in Iraq!.

Answer 9

Not litterally - it's a nation primarily made up of descendants of immigrants.

I guess the common 'nation of immigrants' claim intentionally pushes the viewpoint that race is a more valid identity than citizenship, aculturation or even place of birth.

Answer 10

We are a nation of LEGAL immigrants. However this nation also has 20 to 30 million criminals that are here illegally and breaking our laws.

Illegal immigration has nothing to do with race. It is about our laws.