Multiculturalism In Mukherjee's American Dreamer By Bharati Muukhererjee

America prides itself on being a country of individuality and multiculturalism. Many outsiders see America as a shining example of freedom where all cultures can express themselves and live in a place where they are accepted. However, this image of freedom of individual expression is a lie. Many who live in America face daily backlash and discrimination if they do express individuality that counteracts the “norms” of America’s cultural society. In America, discrimination against other cultures seems to be a problem that has almost always been present. Currently, I would think that most immigrants and people from other cultures seem to feel ashamed to express their individuality in a country that says it “values” individual expression. This

However, the unjustified discrimination in America is often represented by the hard transition that immigrants face when they move to America. This statement is exemplified in the short narrative piece, “American Dreamer” by author Bharati Mukherjee. In “American Dreamer” Mukherjee reflects on her own experiences of being an immigrant and her transition into becoming an “American”. Most people think of America as a cultural melting pot where other cultures are accepted perhaps even celebrated. In spite of this, what America actually celebrates is harshly debated. America likes to say that is prides it self on being “multiculturalists”, yet Mukherjee points out that even multiculturalism, “leads to a lack of respect for individual differences within each group.” (358) The idea of multiculturalism seems like a good idea, but this is rather not true since the idea of multiculturalism, “implies the existence of a central culture.” (Mukherjee 358) Much of the unjustified discrimination in America comes from people from other cultures not fitting into the “central culture” that the US seems to have adopted. This has led to an “us” vs. “them” mentality (Mukherjee 359) in America. Many people in America seem to rely on discrimination since they don’t like the idea of America’s culture changing. However like Mukherjee states America shouldn’t be afraid of the culture changing and instead should embrace that America’s culture is “constantly reforming.” (Mukherjee 359) I hope like the author that one there will be less discrimination towards immigrants. I believe that if more Americans can accept that it our culture is constantly changing and that it is a good thing it is changing, there can be less unjustified discrimination. I truly think that discrimination can never be