The Other

An interesting theme that I have noticed on the Internet is the idea that only immigrants who are willing and able to “assimilate” should be permitted entry to the United States. Everyone else who wants to continue being the “other” should be denied entry.

There’s a lot to unpack in this sentiment, but one of the elements I find most fascinating about this statement is the fact that our history is peppered with stories of the “other” and often, the ancestors of those insisting upon assimilation were in fact, at one point, those despised “others.” For instance, the Irish and their Catholicism were the “other” during the 1800s. Similarly, the Germans and the Dutch around the same time constituted the “other.” And in the early 1900s, the Italians were the “other.”

Among non White groups, Mexicans were already in what is now the United States when the border crossed them, but they were still branded as the “other.” Asians also became the “other,” and in fact, it was Asian immigration during the late 1800s that prompted laws that limited certain ethnicities from being able to enter the United States. Through an elaborate quota system, it was literally illegal for there to be immigration from Asia and Africa while immigration from western Europe was freely allowed. A smaller number of immigrants was permitted from Eastern Europe.

How well did these “other” populations “assimilate” to the United States? Let’s look at the aforementioned immigrant groups and their impact on American culture today.

Irish

Today, practically everybody in the United States celebrates the Irish holiday of St. Patrick’s Day at least by wearing green to work and/or school. In Massachusetts, the Catholic Church provides a dispensation that allows followers of any descent, not just Irish, to ignore Lenten fasting in favor of celebrating the holiday. St. Patrick’s Day parades and feasts are common. And their religion? Catholicism is practiced across the country with the Vice President of the United States a practicing Catholic.

German and Dutch

Most people in the United States decorate a Christmas tree every December despite the tradition originally being seen as an oddity practiced by German immigrants in Pennsylvania. German Christmas markets and Oktoberfest are still symbols of a culture once shunned. And Santa Claus, who sits at every coffee house, library, church, and mall in the 2000s, came with the Dutch, helping to build modern Christmas practices across the United States.

Non Western European Groups

Additionally, the fastest and easiest meal when guests come over is the Italian gift of pizza. Italians contributed to the national menu indeed with other foods such as pasta-based dishes. Similarly, Mexican and Chinese food give Italian food healthy competition. Indian practices such as meditation and yoga have also become popular. And although the earliest African Americans were not voluntary immigrants, their language strongly influenced the Southern accent and dialect.

So who really assimilated? And 5 Steps to Support our Immigrant Groups

This is not to say that, on average, the descendants of each of these groups do not have stronger ties to their culture than the rest of the country. For instance, Italian Americans, as a whole, still tend to be Catholic (with exceptions of course) in spite of migrating to a then largely Protestant country, and the Irish are more likely to wear pins that read, “Kiss me. I’m Irish,” on St. Patrick’s Day than members of other communities. And so we can keep going with each group… but each of these groups has contributed to the fabric of our American society. And any groups holding onto traditional ideals are no less American than anyone else.

So yes, assimilation has occurred… on the part of the country as our national culture has become richer through our history of immigration. We, as a nation, have assimilated by eventually welcoming each group of immigrants into our country. So I propose we consider a few action steps to help keep our country “assimilating:”

1. Explore your own identity. Whenever I teach Intergroup Communications at the university level, I almost always have at least one student who tells me that they do not identify with any culture or that they do not have a culture because they are just “normal American.” But unless you are Native American, you are the descendant of immigrants. So think about your traditions whether they revolve around the food you eat, religious worship, or the clothes you wear. Which traditions were brought by your own ancestors from their home countries? (Or if you are Native American, which traditions are indigenous?) Are there traditions that you wish your family had not lost? For example, did your grandparents speak a language you do not? Are there traditions that morphed over time? Do you have traditions that came from an immigrant community that is not yours? The more we know about our own past, the more we can learn to appreciate those who came before us and those who have come after us.
2. Learn about the traditions of immigrant families and cultural groups different from your own. Let your students, co workers, friends, etc. tell you about their heritage and culture if they feel so inclined. (Nobody should ever feel forced to share.) You don’t have to adopt their traditions, but we have to learn to respect them. And don’t forget to share your traditions, not as “American traditions” but just as traditions of a neighbor or friend.
3. Recognize the futility of asking someone to be more “American.” First, there is no constant description of “American” other than those who hold American citizenship. The Puritans would be shocked today to see how we wear color or celebrate holidays. Up until less than a 100 years ago, it would have been a shock to see someone trick-or-treating. Traditions associated with being American are constantly evolving, so to ask someone to become more American is nonsensical. Furthermore, the idea that most people have of assimilation or becoming more “American” is that members of groups with less social power become more like those with greater racial and/or social power. Perhaps it’s not what many really want to say when they talk about assimilation, but it is implied. So rather than trying to get everyone to conform, let us celebrate our differences.
4. Support transcultural acculturation. The reality is that second generation Americans (children of immigrants) learn to navigate both the dominant culture and their home cultures through a process called transcultural acculturation in which they adopt elements of both cultures. It is the job of students to determine which elements from both cultures work for them; however, as a teacher or parent, you can support their journey by letting them know that whatever characteristics they eventually choose as their combination, it is okay.
5. Learn the difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. Feel free to incorporate others’ traditions into your own, but do so while acknowledging where those traditions came from and honoring those who shared those cultures with you. Teach your students and children alike to respect and appreciate others’ cultures.

By following these five steps, you will be in a better place to help the United States keep getting richer through the cultural contributions of new immigrant groups. And finally, as a bonus, help immigrant groups keep their language and consider learning additional languages yourself. Language is the greatest gift our forefathers gave us. Unfortunately, in times of nativism, many languages have been lost, but it is not too late to revive multilingualism in our nation. If you are interested in learning the why behind bilingualism, take a look at my latest book, Puzzle Pieces, A Systems Approach to Multilingual Education. It will take you through the economic, social, and cognitive benefits of multilingualism and how to ensure that students become multilingual.