The Melting Pot Theory

Melting Pot Theory Often America is referred to as “The large melting pot.” The idea that the United States is a land of opportunity, where anyone can come and blend into a new breed that is uniquely American. However, the cultural diversity in America is clearly evident, from physical characteristics to different religious beliefs and customs. As minorities immigrate to America and attempt to assimilate in society, they are forced to live a pluralistic lifestyle of blending with the current society, while struggling to maintain their heritage and identity “Minority individuals must learn to function in two environments: their own culture and that of the mainstream society” (de Anda, 1984: p101). There are some who successfully leave their

Unfortunately, what many discovered, were the same inequalities and prejudices they left behind still existed in the new land. Early in the settling period of America, immigrants were predominantly from Western and Eastern Europe. Those from stronger European nations such as Great Brittan, exerted the dominant force over most others migrating from other countries. Whoever did not conform to the colonial lifestyle and beliefs were welcomed with hostility and discrimination. They were viewed as beneath those who were civilized “The Latter regarded these newcomers contemptuously, labeling them ill-tempered ruffians who drank and fought too much” (Parrillo, 2014: p133). Eastern Europeans migrated in large groups, but struggled with not knowing the English language and therefore were forced into low paying jobs and considered low class as they attempted to assimilate into a foreign culture “The ruling classes and local estate farm owners ruthlessly exploited the common people” (Parrillo, 2014: p151). As people of different ethnicities entered America, they quickly learned that an established culture was already set to the Anglo-Saxon traditions. This created a challenge for those attempting to assimilate into a new country as well as maintain their personal identity. Attempts to merge some cultures that shared similar characteristics were made; however, this seemed necessary more for government bureaucracy rather than an actual merging of people into a unique culture “Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans, separated as they are by culture, history, and to some extent by racial characteristics, they were so combined, with a host of other Spanish speaking groups, into a ‘Hispanic’ category in the census of 1970” (Glazer, 2001: p10). Other groups were intentionally ostracized from society due to the fear and prejudices of the