Barbara Jordan's Cultural Identity In The US

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Growing up, I had always believed that being an American meant uniting under the same beliefs and values of others, however, I was so immersed in the idea of true belonging that I ignored my own cultural identity. U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan wrote an interesting article relating to this idea in the New York Times article, saying, “Americanization means the process of becoming an American. It means civic incorporation, becoming a part of the polity, becoming one of us. But that does not mean conformity. We are more than a melting pot, we are a kaleidoscope, where every turn of history retracts new light on the old promise.” (Jordan) I believe that this quote has many meanings behind it, most importantly, it discusses the true meaning …show more content…

Specifically, this part of her statement, “We are more than a melting pot, we are a kaleidoscope, where every turn of history retracts new light on the old promise.” Jordan piqued my interest. My interpretation was that the waves of immigration reflected the ideas of the nation’s founding values of equality and freedom. The different shards of glass within the kaleidoscope represent the idea that citizens can coexist while maintaining their independent values and cultures without thoroughly mixing into one cohesive whole. Through the lens of the kaleidoscope, the United States looks like a pretty picture that all comes together; however, it’s all made up of millions of people with different backgrounds who have come together, and I believe that’s what represents Americanization. The history of immigration in America shows how much change the country has been through since its founding. Throughout our history, different influxes of immigrants have brought together people from all over the world, significantly contributing to our country’s societal and cultural norms. Each wave of immigrants came here for different reasons and altered the nation’s …show more content…

Another example was during World War II when the demand for labor was increasing, so the United States recruited Mexicans from across the border to do labor work. This program allowed over 500,000 Mexicans into the U.S. border “...whether legal or illegal, they worked not only on farms, but also on railroads, in mining, and in manufacturing establishments.” (Rogers, pg 89) These are only a few stories of the many groups that immigrated to America and contributed to today’s culture by redefining the understanding of the nation’s values and opportunities. In this context, each group is a “turn of history that refracts new light on the old promise” of the United States as a kaleidoscope of cultures. On the other hand, some may argue that uniting as a country because of Americanization inevitably leads to a melting pot of cultures, affecting citizens’ identity

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