“The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources- because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples”. President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke of the positive aspects of diversity, and how differences brought good. The United States was built by people in search of a better life. They saw so much potential here and had the chance to begin again and improve upon past morals.* The history of our nation is much more complicated than that. While they aimed for a balanced society often times the treatment of people was not equal and the difficulties people had to overcome were astounding. In the piece I, Too, Hughes bears the harsh truth about the division amongst people. The heavy contrast between “I” versus “They” went to show the reality that America was only great for few. While some …show more content…
As said before, it was essentially founded by people who were looking for a sanctuary away from the monarchy. What’s significant about America is that it is a melting pot of people. Sanders, from the passage Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World, comments that it led to “Unexpected combinations” And that is the beauty of this nation. The assortment of people created an environment with multiple perspectives and beliefs. By bringing all this** together people designed “imaginative” customs that have progressed through the years. Thus far, culture has been a major topic of discussion. Many have this idea that if a person comes to America they should take on the qualities of an American. In The Cult of Ethnicity, Good and Bad, Schlesinger argues that “unifying” is key for America’s success. To create this “New race” people must forget their original culture and Americanize themselves. The problem with this is that it rids the nation of its diversity. The irony of a country who preaches freedom and then contradicts itself saying by comply to our ideas as well as value is highly
By accepting a single culture, the people of the United States were able to overcome their differences and form a new nation. This is what European countries hoped to accomplish someday.
Self proclaimed philosopher, english writer, and novelist Aldous Huxley wrote the book Brave New World. One of the issues in the novel is how uniform the society is. There is no diversity in the in Brave New World. Huxley carefully examined on why society is the way it is. He wants the audience to understand the philosophy of a unique society different from a normal society.
Although he believes it was better in the past, he sees America as some sort of fraud because it was never a bastion of freedom. This quote, “O, let my land be a land where Liberty / Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, / But opportunity is real, and life is free, / Equality is in the air we breathe. / (There’s never been equality for me, / Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”) (Hughes, 11-16) captures the fabrication that America was never the home of the free. There is this concept that America is a place of freedom and equality but Hughes understandably does not see it this way. He utilizes examples of many groups of people that have been persecuted either racially or economically such as poor white people, black slaves, Native Americans, and immigrants (Hughes, 19-22). These persecuted groups are overlooked and not given the basic freedoms promised in
Founded by groups as diverse as indigenous Native Americans, Dutch merchants, English separatists, Spanish missionaries, French frontiersman and Africans – both free and enslaved – the country’s diversity stretches back four centuries” (9). America is an extraordinary country. In my opinion, America is the most diverse population and culture. However, exceptional does not necessarily mean better. I have never understood that some Americans have the mindset that they are ‘better’ than other countries. I generally like America, but that is enough for me. I don 't need it to be "better" than other places to be satisfied. I came here to have a better life, better education and to have a better home. However, if American history were full of lies they should make a wise action and should tell the truth and tell what really happened in the past. In my mind today is “Where do we find truth these days?” It is certainly not in the history a state teaches its children, or in the press that props up its leaders. Africans both free and enslaved and immigrants has freedom I just hope that, people of color and Americans have real unity and still respect each other in the future
America is different from other places, it always has been. The reason why is that America has a vast variety of “.people from different nations, accustomed to different forms and habits of government, speaking different languages, and different in their modes of worship.” America is an immense melting pot. Together they all help America strive in every field of technology, work, and life because of all of these differences. Thomas Paine’s characterization of America does not hold true today.
Another analysis of Hughes wishing America to be America again is when he refered to himself in the fifth stanza , line one, two and three; "Negro bearing slavery scars, red man driven from the land, and the immigrant clutching hope I seek--". Tracing back to history on how everything began, Hughes refrenced slavery...
...qual treatment for every single individual. Hughes is clearly motivating the reader or the listener to take action not against America but against the corruption that is taking place in America because the true America is pure and good.
The United States of America is a country founded on the idea of freedom and opportunity. Beginning with the first colony founded in 1607, people from all over the world have migrated to the U.S. to escape oppression and persecution. In 1607, people fled from England to escape religious persecution. In 2007, Arlinda Shehu and her family received the golden opportunity to leave an impoverished country to seek better lives in the United States.
Early America was a place for anyone to live their life the way that they wanted, as it is now, but back then this was a new concept. Much of this idea comes from the freedoms obtained by living here. Many other countries in the world had many freedoms, but not as numerous as they were in America shortly after the country was founded. Americans during the late 1700's and early 1800's embraced their freedoms and became leaders and expanders, and what we now consider the founders of many present-day cities and towns. One thing that has been present throughout the generations of people living in America, is the desire to set themselves apart from other nations. This want was supplied to the American people in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. These two documents gave the American people everything they needed to set them apart from the rest. Based on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, America was able to create an identity including freedom, religion, and individuality that is very unique to this country.
The British colonies in America, what became the United States through revolution, were intended to be haimish, pleasant places founded on the ideas of virtuous republicanism, that every man would contribute and none would inherit high status or aristocracy. However, these places that once prided themselves on these ideas have become stuffy and pompous. Even when founded, they had encroached upon territory already inhabited by Native Americans. Furthermore, the enslavement of African peoples in the colonies and the continued servitude of generations of them until the mid-nineteenth century is contrary to the values upon which the United States were formed. As for the roots of the nation, although other nations such as France have had revolutions, none were so successful and long-standing as that of the United States. The French Revolution was plagued with internal contempt and lack of trust between those orchestrating it. Although the goal of it was to overthrow the French monarchy, there were soon after under the control of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, and later still Louis XVIII was crowned King of France, in effect restoring the monarchy that was. When the American Revolution was completed, the nation never fell under the control of Britain again; it was truly an independent nation. Nevertheless, the French Revolution was inspired by the American Revolution that preceded it. This makes the United States, in part, responsible for the destruction and chaos that came in the wake of the French Revolution. Even then, though the revolution in America was successful, it took many years and debates for the revolution to happen at all; the British colonists that came to be the men who founded the nation were not initially united in their stance against Britain and Parliament. In fact, many argued against revolution of
Above all, opportunities were endless in America, if you fit the characteristics of people who achieved the American Dream. Quoted from Let American Be American Again by Langston Hughes, “But opportunity is real and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe. (There’s never been equality
In discussions of America, one controversial issue has been whether or not America cherishes diversity. On one hand, Eboo Patel, in his work “Making the Future Better, Together,” claims that America does in fact cherish diversity, while using quotes from both Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington to further prove his point. On the other hand, Jena McGregor, in her work “Fixing Hollywood’s Diversity Problem,” opposes the idea that America cherishes diversity by claiming that Hollywood needs to be more diverse, precisely in the Academy. Even though McGregor only speaks about the problems with Hollywood, instead of the entire United States, the majority of my class still switched to ‘No’. My own view is that America does cherish diversity because of the recognition of the different ethnicities and religions,.
Diversity is a notion, when applied to the majority of circumstances, can create a positive conclusion. The trick to producing a positive outcome is often how the different aspects are brought together. Consider a classic dinner combination peas and carrots, the two colors look appealing and the two flavors comes together as one making a superb side dish. Now consider oil and water, these two substance are not often considered a good combination. Although, this is not always the case; olive oil and vinegar (which is water based) when mixed, come together into a delectable salad dressing. Diversity and inclusion should also apply to humans by bringing people together who are different it can creates a whole that is enhanced by the uniqueness of each individual.
Diversity in America has been a growing problem lately; and due to recent events, you have every right to be skeptical. Events such as the Oscars shortlist have led many people to believe that America truly does have a diversity problem. But it seems that a majority of those people don’t fully understand the opposing side. I believe that America does cherish its diversity because that is why this country is where it is today.
John Winthrop states that America is to be a “city on a hill” a shining light for all to see, a wise quote from a wise man showing his pride in his country. America is still like this for numerous reasons. We stand out from many places because America is a focal point for many different races, religions and people from every walk of life. Some may think that America is no longer that great place, even though America isn't that ideal place in some ways ,we stand out in different aspects. By standing out it is both positive and negative, it gives us some security while also making us a larger target for rival countries.