Is America a multicultural society? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Chad M was kind of rude.

To tell you the truth, we're NOT a multicultural society! (Although it may appear so). A multicultural nation is a nation in which many cultures live aside each other and each culture is respected. (culture a + culture b = culture a and culture b) This is near impossible to its fullest extent.

We are a society of 'assimilation'. (culture a + culture b = culture a). For instance, when immigrants come here, we expect them to learn OUR language, OUR customs, OUR laws, OUR practices. What do I mean by 'our'? American customs, laws, practices... and what do I mean by that??? Who founded America?? WHITE PROTESTANTS.

Think I'm nuts yet? White Protestantism rules the country. (search for Weber's 'Protestant Ethic').

America has been trying to get black people to act white since the first slave ships came here! We couldn't just let them keep their own customs and beliefs. We had to push Christianity and OUR ways of living onto them. Now, we're not living in the 16-1800s anymore, but you can still see this today. Look at celebrities for instance. What do black female celebrities look like? Most are light-skinned and with straight hair. Studies have been done and show that black women (as well as white men and women) prefer black women with lighter skin. No, I'm not making this up, so if that offended anyone, take it up with the Sociology department of every university in America.

Another example - a few days from now will start the 'Christmas season'. You'll see xmas crap EVERYWHERE. You'll see a bit of Kwanza and Jewish holiday things, but we all know that Christmas out-rules them both in America! Do you work? I imagine you'll be off for Christmas and Easter, but I doubt you'll be off work for any of the major holidays for other religions in the U.S. If we took a day off for each of those holidays, there would BE NO WORKDAYS! However, Christmas and Easter are ok because that's what this country was founded on, right? (I'm not taking up for it, I'm being sarcastic).

You want more?! Turn your TV on. That's really all you have to do to see that white middleclass protestantism rules the country. Look at the government. Look at elementary and high school cirriculum.

I coul go on and on and on and on, but I think I've made my point.

Do we have many cultures in America? Of course. Yet, we are not multiculturalistic.

Do we have multicultural aspects in this country? Of course. Look at restaurants, for instance. We have Chinese, Japanese, Italian,Mexican, Greek, etc. restaurants, and most of us respect that, right? (we want Mexicans to learn OUR language, but we love their food). Church is another good example. Don't confuse this with the Protestant thing, though. In this country, we have freedom of religion. A Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, Christian, etc. can find their culture in their place of worship. Even the Christian church is divided, of course. Take, for instance, the 'black church'. Although not completely, American Christian churches are still segregated for the most part. In a 'black church' (as opposed to a predominately white church), black people can come together and practice and feel comfortable with their own black culture. It's just different from predominately white churches.

OK, I hope I didn't offend anyone with anything I said. I learned all of this in college classes, and I have specific sources if you want them. Just e-mail me.

But... just imagine for a second if we were multicultural. Every race/ethnicity/etc. would have their own culture and not assimilate into protestant America. Just imagine the chaos. The english speaking wouldn't understand the foreign speaking and vice versa. Customs would be completely different. Laws would be completely different. A complete multicultural society would be impossible (I wouldn't want to be here for it). HOWEVER, America needs to work on being more multicultual and accept other cultures besides white protestantism. We need to teach our chidren about other cultures and to respect them. If everyone respected everyone from other cultures, there would be no racism. Respect is a key word here, and it just goes to show that we ARE NOT a multicultural nation.

EDIT - The U.S. is NOT a melting pot either. A 'melting pot' is different from assimilation and multiculturalism. A melting ot combines cultures to form a brand new one (culture a + culture b = culture c). For instance, the U.S. would take the white, black, Latino/a, etc. cultures and combine parts of each to form a whole new culture. This is not the case in the U.S. as I has already shown. We assimilate other cultures into mainstream white protestant culture.

Answer 2

I remember this being a positive term in school and that the diversity of people was a good thing. Our current politics wants everyone to be the same and puts down people of other cultures especially of non-white background. I think this is sad. I like the different cultures that we have. It makes our society much more interesting.

Answer 3

I must respectfully disagree with "Thinking"

Multicultural doesn't mean you coexist peacefully, it just means there are many cultures living together.

The united states is a multicultural society (i.e. there are many cultures in this society), but it doesn't mean that all the cultures get along all the time.

Answer 4

Also, a culture can be many things not just race and ethnicity. Culture can be anything from your religion to the type of home you live in.

Answer 5

confident, by using fact there are various human beings from international who've come to undertake u . s . a . of america as their abode. the only natives are, nicely, the community human beings. all human beings else has immigrated right here by some potential. in case you reside right here, go searching you. this is obtrusive :P

Answer 6

It's a multi-racial society, like a lot of other countries. 'Multiculturalism' is a nonsensical buzz-word, cooked up by PR idiots.

Answer 7

Oh please, you must live under a rock, open your eyes! Look around, Have you ever been to New York City? Or any major city? Yes we're multi-cultural. Why because this is America. we're the melting pot of the world!!

Answer 8

how can u seriously be asking tht? we have people coming over the boarder in mexico, tons of asians come here just to learn to speak english and theres blacks, whites, latinos, u name it weve got it

Answer 9

"America" is a melting pot society yes. & "americans" are a shitty cocktail yes.