Essay

Multiculturalism in America

INTRODUCTION
Multiculturalism is the concept that represents communities
containing multiple cultures. It is the acceptance of multiple ethnic
cultures at the social and organizational level. This concept is applied
to the demographic make-up of a country, where people from
different countries, traditions and religious backgrounds are given
equitable status in schools, neighborhood, cities and nations. America
experienced massive immigration in the 19th century, one of the
most important features of its actual society. Everyone was coming to
United States looking for the American Dream. This has given rise to
multiculturalism in America.
The term is used in two broad ways, either descriptive or
normative. As a descriptive term, it usually refers to the simple fact
of cultural diversity. It is generally applied to the demographic makeup of a specific place, sometimes at the organizational level
(schools, businesses, neighborhoods, cities,

or

nations).

As

normative term, it refers to ideologies or policies that promote this

diversity or its institutionalization. So, in this sense, multiculturalism is
a society at ease with the rich tapestry of human life and the desire
amongst people to express their own identity in the manner they see
fit. Such ideologies or policies vary widely, including country to
country, ranging from the advocacy of equal respect to the various
cultures in a society, to a policy of promoting the maintenance
of cultural

diversity,

to

policies

in

which

people

of

various ethnic and religious groups are addressed by the authorities

as defined by the group they belong to.
However,

two

main

different

and

seemingly

inconsistent

strategies have developed through different Government policies and

strategies. The first focuses on interaction and communication
between

different

cultures.

Interactions

of

cultures

provide

opportunities for the cultural differences to communicate and interact

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to create multiculturalism. The second centers on diversity and

cultural uniqueness. Cultural isolation can protect the uniqueness of
the local culture of a nation or area and also contribute to global
cultural diversity. A common aspect of many policies following the
second approach is that they avoid presenting any specific ethnic,
religious, or cultural community values as central.
Multiculturalism

is

often

contrasted

with

the

concepts

of assimilationism and has been described as a "melting pot"

(metaphor

for

a heterogeneous society

becoming

more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" into a

harmonious whole with a common culture).

ORIGIN OF MULTICULTURALISM IN AMERICA

The multiculturalism began as part of the pragmatism movement
at the end of the nineteenth century in Europe and the United States,
then as political and cultural pluralism at the turn of the twentieth. It
was partly in response to the European imperialism in sub-Saharan
Africa and the massive immigration of Southern and Eastern
Europeans to the United States and Latin America. Philosophers,
psychologists, historians and early sociologists such as Charles
Sanders Peirce, William James, George Santayana, Horace Kallen, John
Dewey, W. E. B. Du Bois and Alain Locke developed concepts of
cultural pluralism, from which emerged what we understand today as
multiculturalism. In 1909 William James exposed the idea of a "plural
society

and

saw

pluralism

as

"crucial

to

the

formation

of

philosophical and social humanism to help build a better, more

egalitarian society.
The educational approach to multiculturalism has since spread to
the grade school system. School systems tried to rework their
curricula to introduce students to diversity, often on the grounds that
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it is important for minority students to see themselves represented in

the classroom.

EFFECTS OF MULTICULTURALISM IN AMERICA

In United States of America, multiculturalism is still not a
prominent policy, established at a federal level. The efforts of these
prominent figures in promoting an egalitarian society in America,
gave rise to a new trend towards a sustained change in socioeconomic development.
United States of America has always been proud to practice
freedom of thought and religion. So everyone has equal opportunities,
irrespective of culture and place. In the last few years, the influx of
Latinos and Asians has rapidly increased. To deal with this, people
must create a multicultural society based on equality and should
accept American history on racism.
Studies made in America showed that Asian American is the
fastest growing group in the country and 13 % of the total population
is Hispanic. Today, United States of America has become a mixed
culture,

comprising

immigrants,

natives

and

minorities,

metaphorically representing the melting pot. Some of the distinctive

characteristics of American society are: multiculturalism being
accepted as fair system by law and tolerance towards people
accepted as means for better adaptability.
This ideology had far flung effects. It not only brought about a
change of social layers, but also made the citizen enjoy equal rights
and liberty. It had a dominant theme in educational and intellectual
sector. This led to the demand for rights from people of various
communities and background. Oppressed classes like gays, lesbians,
elderly people and others also put forth their rights.
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The most prominent effect was felt in reformation of educational

system. Oppressed classes like the African-Americans were given
equal recognition in educational institutions. In business, trade and
corporate sectors, equal participation right was given to people from
different backgrounds.

BENEFITS OF MULTICULTURALISM IN AMERICA

In United States of America, multiculturalism was accepted as an
official policy that gave recognition to multiple citizenship within the
country. The government supported television shows, radio programs
and newspapers in minority languages. It also rendered support to
minority celebrations, holidays, music, art and festivals. Liberty in
marriage and judiciary laws were also enforced by the USA
constitution, depending upon ethnicity. Overseas trade was also
encouraged.
Wearing traditional dresses in educational institutions was
accepted. In the hiring process, much fairer policy was accepted.
Racism or discrimination in schools and colleges was a punishable
offense. Introduction of new textbooks with multicultural perspective
was one of positive aspects of multiculturalism. Emphasis was laid on
subjects, such as history, sociology, philosophy, art and literature of
different cultures. Scholarships were funded by the Government for
higher studies. Representation of multicultural nationals in politics,
engineering, science and technology, was a significant improvement
in general.
Multiculturalism in the US has definitely shown positive aspects
and is still supporting a large number of immigrants, who are engaged
actively in education and business. Although, weight age is much
more on the positive side, there is some amount of corruption
prevailing in America due to multiculturalism.
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CONCLUSION
After doing this work I can conclude that the Multiculturalism is a
concept that is strongly implemented in United States of America.
After a big wave of immigration in the 19th century, when so many
people went to America looking for the American Dream, the
country faced a big diversity of people in his population, with a wide
range of traditions and cultures. All of these differences stayed
together in the same country doing what today is called the melting
pot.
In the first stage it was not easy because all of these differences
between people from those different countries and cultures were not
well accepted by the Americans and it originated a big problem, the
racism.
However, as we can see above, nowadays the multiculturalism is
present in the America and people live together without problems.
The differences are accepted by everyone and even the oppressed
classes have equal opportunities in the work and everywhere in this
country. The American society began to be heterogeneous and
nowadays is a homogeneous society.