Ronald Takaki A Different Mirror Analysis

594 Words2 Pages

Josue Martinez Professor Amerian History 10 29 October 2017 1. What is the argument of Ronald Takaki’s A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America? How does Takaki make that argument? The argument of Ronald Takaki’s A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America is that America has always been shaped by its multiculturalism and that it is much more important to know about the history of minorities and how they also shaped America instead of just hearing about this prevailing master narrative of American history which he states is “this powerful and popular but inaccurate story, our country was settled by European immigrants, and Americans are white.” (Takaki, 5). Takaki makes this argument early on in the book by first stating …show more content…

He attempts this by trying to show that the “master narrative” itself is currently being challenged with how diverse America as a country is becoming and that with the rise of minorities finding out their own histories it is instead challenged and diversity is instead being embraced. The larger goal behind the book ultimately was to show how each of the minorities he addresses in his book from the Native Americans, Irish Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and various others were each impacted by decisions made by the majority at the time and how these various histories will ultimately impact the future of America. Takaki also states himself that “A Different Mirror seeks to study the past for the sake of the future” (Takaki, 445). Just based of this quote from Takaki himself shows that with this book he tries to at least show that by studying the past of American history from a minority’s perspective that it’ll influence the future when we all become minorities in time so we can use these past experiences to not cause harm to others or ignore others history as we keep developing as a

Show More
Related

  • Arturo Islas' Migrant Souls: The Lonely Effects of Assimilation

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Islas, Arturo. From Migrant Souls. American Mosaic: Multicultural Readings in Context. Eds. Gabriele Rico, Barbara Roche and Sandra Mano. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 1995. 483-491.

    Read More

  • Ronald Kaki's A Different Mirror By Ronald Takaki

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since they lacked certain physical and/or cultural characteristics needed to belong in the American nation, they were not considered worthy enough to receive the same rights and privileges they deserve. Therefore, Takaki hopes that with his book, people would acknowledge how America developed a society centered to benefit only white people with the creation of laws hindering these racial groups from receiving the same and equal rights they deserve.

    Read More

  • Ronald Takaki's Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th-Century America

    1673 Words  | 4 Pages

    the prejudice, hate and violence that seem to be so deeply entrenched in America's multiracial culture and history of imperialism, Takaki does offer us hope. Just as literature has the power to construct racial systems, so it also has the power to refute and transcend them… The pen is in our hands.

    Read More

  • Models Of American Ethnic Culture By Patrick Buchanan

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    The ability for people to look at a situation from a different perspective is vital in today’s globalized society. Diversity is the most important core attribute we share that gives us a new perspective to assess situations differently through our diverse backgrounds and upbringings. Unlike Patrick J. Buchanan’s argument in his essay titled “Deconstructing America,” diversity is not a burden, but rather a necessity in America’s culture. Conversely, Fredrickson 's essay titled, “Models of American Ethnic Relations: A Historical Perspective,” illustrated a more precise version of American history that disproves Buchanan’s ethnocentric ideologies. Buchanan speaks of diversity as a narrow, one-way street. The imprecise interpretations of history

    Read More

  • Race in A Different Mirror’ by Ronald Takaki

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the first Chapter of the book ‘A Different Mirror’ by (Takaki, 1993) the author embarks on a descriptive narrative that tries to elaborate the concept of a multiracial America. The chapter begins with the author taking a taxi ride in which he is subjected to racial discrimination. The taxi driver questions the author’s origin owing to the fact that his English is perfect and eloquent. This incident prompts a discussion that transpires throughout the chapter as the author tries to explain to his audience that America is a multiracial country with different ethnic groups that moved from their homelands to settle in the United States. The chapter discusses the settlement of various racial groups such as; English immigrants, African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanos and the Irish.

    Read More

  • A Different Mirror

    346 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ronald Takaki is one of the foremost-recognized scholars of multicultural studies and holds a PhD. in American History from the University of California, Berkeley. As a professor of Ethnic Studies at the same university, he wrote A Different Mirror: a History of Multicultural America as a fantastic new telling of our nation’s history. The book narrates the composition of the many different people of the United States of America.

    Read More

  • Ethnic Myth Chapter Summary

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    In reading the first chapter of Ethnic Myth I was instantly lured in with the first sentence. That states this book is dangerous because it clarifies yet rejects all that is known on race, ethnicity, and immigration in the U.S. Race and ethnicity have always been taboo topics. Like discussed in lecture it is not appropriate for someone to come up and ask “What are you? In this reading Steinberg discusses how racial reparations should be demanded however not in the form of cash

    Read More

  • Immigration Quotes In A Different Mirror

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ronald Takaki quotes Langston Hughes in his book A Different Mirror “ Let American be America again, let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed, … I am the red man driven from the land, I am the Immigrant clutching the hope I seek, O let my land be a land where, equality is the air we breathe.” (Takaki, 19-20). “‘We the’diverse ‘people of the United States’ transformed America into a mighty economy and an amazing unique society of varied races, ethnicities, and religion.” (Takaki, 20). Takaki wrote in his book, “ Day of spacious dreams! I sailed for America, Overblown with hope.” ( Takaki, 14). Would not all immigrants come here for a better life? Yes, Ken Vinson, who works at a local power station in Marshalltown, Iowa said, “Some people came here because they were desperate. I don’t care how they got here, and they have a family. Now all of the sudden you want to rip these people out and send them back? I wouldn’t want my family torn apart like that.’” (Barabak, 2016) . An opponent may say, their desire and dreams take away our hope. Desires, dreams, and hopes, however, are contagious and

    Read More

  • Myths of the Melting Pot

    1981 Words  | 4 Pages

    Perhaps, the “Melting Pot” myth gained strength during the Industrial Revolution. With millions of immigrants entering the United States, culture was changing within the United States. Americans set a high standard for there society and everyone wanted to be accepted. There was a social requirement to live in a civil society creating together the “American Dream,” which leads to prosperity. Many immigrants moving to the United States brought with them various traditions of their culture and after moving, they repressed such beliefs and forged ahead with a new way of “American Thinking.” The rituals and traditions of such societies should have brought diversity to this nation’s culture however, these ways would soon become a part of the past. The “Melting Pot” myth heavily influences American society and people believe that everyone no matter what skin color or religious belief is created equal. This belief of the American Way of life is idyllic to say the least. Unfortunately, this myth has been thwarted due to a high level of racial supremacy within the nations past and even present. There are two particular events in national history, which will forever hinder equality: slavery of African Americans and Japanese internment camps during World War II in America. These substantial events shape our society and are only the tip of the iceberg when it

    Read More

  • Racial Realism Essay

    1513 Words  | 4 Pages

    We cannot deny the fact that, as Americans, racial realism has always affected us and our way of thinking. In my personal experience, being an Asian, I have had

    Read More

  • Christina Ho's Concept Of Multiculturalism

    1101 Words  | 3 Pages

    The critics argue that multiculturalism ultimately favors one community than another, exacerbating conflict, ethnic difference and limiting the individual’s right to self-identity (Prato 2009: 2). They argue that the fundamental problem of multiculturalism is that its meaning differs from scholars to scholars (Watson 2000, Parto: 3).

    Read More

  • Native American Alcoholism Essay

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1993. Print.

    Read More

  • Master Narrative In A Different Mirror By Ronald Takaki

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki provides an insight of America’s multicultural nation. He shares the history of the non-European minorities who have settled and contributed to the growth in America. However, many do not view them as Americans today because they still follow the Master Narrative. This teaching only focuses on the European settlement and their history in America, therefore, causing no acknowledgement to the minorities. Takaki challenges the Master Narrative as an incorrect teaching because it does not reflect America’s full history. America has always been racially and ethnically diverse. Thus, he hopes to move them away from the Master Narrative and learn from his teachings that non-Europeans are Americans despite their

    Read More

  • Lack Of Multiculturalism

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    Smith introduces the concept of multiculturalism and how America has “always been a ‘multicultural’ country” (Smith, p.1), but didn’t become a realization to the American people until the 1960s and the civil right movement. She explains how the word “multicultural” was used as a synonym to earlier interpretations of “minority”. This included the African American, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American cultures to name a few. As time would go on this would eventually include “the handicapped, gay and lesbian individuals, and, in short, any persons whose lifestyle, enforced or otherwise, distinguishes them as identifiable members of a group...

    Read More

  • Search for Identity in It’s Hard Enough Being Me

    1716 Words  | 4 Pages

    Raya’s essay is an informative account of life for a multicultural American, because it is told from an actual multicultural author’s viewpoint. It gives the reader a sense that the information is accurate. It would be harder to accept the viewpoint if the author were for example, a white male writing about how a Mexican, Puerto Rican woman feels. As Connie Young Yu points out, information retold by someone who didn’t live the experiences is most often falsely perceived. Yu uses the example of white American historians writing about the lives of Chinese immigrants. Yu says that there is no accurate account for the lives of the immigrants, because they didn’t document their lives themselves. The little information that there is in history books only tells about their obvious accomplishments. There is no official understanding of their personal lives or feelings (Yu 30).

    Read More

More about Ronald Takaki A Different Mirror Analysis

Open Document