1. Culture
• Hattingh, M. (2013) states that South Africa is known for its ethic diversity and with 11 official languages, the country’s melting pot of cultures often astonishes visitors. Often referred to as the “Rainbow Nation “, South Africa is home to a fascinating mix of citizens namely;
Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sazi, San, Sotho Stana, the Tsonga and the Venda People.
• Zimmerman, K. (2017) states that the United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. United States culture’s has been shaped by many cultures such as Native American’s, Latin American’s, Africans and Asians. The United States is often described as a “melting pot” in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct “flavors” to
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(2017) states the American cuisine or diet was influenced by the Europeans and Native Americans. Today many foods are regarded as American, such as Hamburger, Hot Dogs, Potato Chips and meat loafs. “American Comfort food” is a type of cooking style and food which is native to the region and it includes dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, Black-eyed peas and Corn Bread
• Hattingh, M. (June 13, 2013) states that South Africa’s cultural diversity is expressed in a number of ways, one of the most prominent of is the different cultural influences on that goes into the food that we eat. One of the national dishes, a ‘bobotie’ is Malay in origin while Indian curries are also a favorite. Nothing is more South African than a braai, whether it is snoek on the coals or a ‘shisa nyama’ in Manguang (Bloemfontein). South Africans also love their baked rusks from the Afrikaans kitchen, the bunny show from the corner shop and their pap (maize porridge).
Climate
• According to Climatestotravel.com, the United States has a considerable climatic variety. In general, however, it has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers (sometimes very hot), more or less continental depending on the latitude and the distance from the
Kottak, Conrad Phillip and Kayhryn Kozaitis 2012 On Being Different, Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream, 4th edition, McGraw Hill Press, New York: Chapter 1.
The Culture of Americans is diverse and evolving constantly, due to changing interests, landscapes, religions, and geography.
Since its creation, the United States of America has been labeled as a melting pot.
In today’s society, Cultural diversity in the United States of America can be seen in all aspects of life, such as in the media, workplace, household, and schools. Cultural diversity is defined as the characteristic of diverse cultures, as contradicting to monoculture, as in a homogenization of cultures, affiliated to cultural decay. In this present stage America, most individuals inaccurately use phrases such as “American culture,” or “Western culture,” as if such common and standardized cultures exist. People, in general, neglect to acknowledge the presence of cultural diversity, and cultural differences within the American society.
“America gave the world a notion of the melting pot-an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together, producing a new, American identity…” Ivan Krastev wrote this about the true culture of America which the supports the idea of unity. While some people believe that America is turning into a salad bowl it can be argued that it is still a melting pot because every culture in the world is already present in ours. A salad bowl culture is a culture that excels in individuality, so much so, that there isn’t true unity unlike a melting pot where everything is combined. Many people claim it’s safer if not more helpful to assimilate and embracing diversity or the presence of it, creates unity which is the goal of a melting pot.
Brief History From the 1500s to the 1700s, African blacks, mainly from the area of West Africa (today's Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Dahomey, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon) were shipped as slaves to North America, Brazil, and the West Indies. For them, local and tribal differences, and even varying cultural backgrounds, soon melded into one common concern: the suffering they all endured. Music, songs, and dances as well as traditional food, helped not only to uplift them but also quite unintentionally added immeasurably to the culture around them. In the approximately 300 years that blacks have made their homes in North America, the West Indies, and Brazil, their highly honed art of the cuisine so treasured and carefully transmitted to their daughters has become part of the great culinary classics of these lands. But seldom are the African blacks given that recognition.
prosperous from its diversity, epitomizes the "American Melting Pot". It is complicated to relate such different backgrounds, but with an overview of history, culture, religion, and integration on a small scale, a reader is capable of applying the values to the American culture as a whole.
Indeed, in all their schools from elementary to secondary schools, they already adopted curricula that will foster cultural diversity. Through this program, students from different levels had the chance to be exposed to different traditions and customs of various ethnic and racial groups. Even the government sectors in the United States are advocating tolerance for diversity, like how they commemorate Asian American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander Heritage weeks (Margai, 2010). Even in their postage, they developed stamps highlighting some prominent Americans along with their diverse backgrounds. Despite all these efforts, sometimes the issue concerning multiculturalism causes significant political and societal conflicts. Right now, United States is widely known as the greatest melting pot where people from different countries and with different cultures could be united as one. However, people have divided views with regards to the issue whether the immigrants should adopt America’s culture, or they should be given the freedom to keep their own culture. The majority of the Americans believed that one must learn first how to speak English before permitting to have an American citizenship. In support of the notion of melting pot, many Americans still insist that their Creed should endure, and their nation is destined to be a prime model to
These people from different areas of the world will become a part of our work force, neighborhoods and schools. The inclusion of a variety of cultures into our society sets the stage for the concept of American being a melting pot of different nationalities of people. As a melting pot, it is
America was widely known as a “melting pot” of sorts for many generations. The country earned its title by accepting immigrants of various cultures and molding, or melting, them into the American lifestyle. However, the “melting pot” idea of America is starting to dissipate. According to a Newsweek Poll on the public, “only 20 percent still think America is a melting pot” (Morganthau and Wolfberg, par.4). As more Americans push away immigrants and create stereotypes against said immigrants, America continues to lose its title as a “melting pot.” There is ethnic friction in America and people have begun to have a hard time assimilating (Morganthau and Wolfberg, par.18). .America is beginning to place a negative outlook on its culture. Authors Jack Shaheen, Richard Rodriguez, Peter Marin and Zora Neale Hurtson all shape American culture in a detrimental way.
Students attending American schools are taught clearly about the United States’ image as a melting pot; however, there is evidence to support that, while there is not an official federal stance on the matter (Sengupta), the amount of assimilation required to be legitimately considered a “melting pot” is not being reached. Although similar, there is often confusion about the differences between “multicultural” and “assimilated” communities. By definition, assimilation is the complete “merging of cultural traits from previously distinct culture groups” (Dictionary), while multiculturalism is delineated as the “preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation” (Dictionary). Early to mid-1900’s America entertained the idea of a melting pot, where people from all parts of the world would join together and assimilate. It seems, however, that the growing trend has been to treat America as more of a “salad bowl” (Porter), in that people are joining together but instead of merging as one unit, are maintaining a majority, if not all, of their primary culture with little attempt to adapt. This underachievement has left America to unintentionally become a multicultural society. The clear differentiation between expectation and reality brings vast amounts of controversy among the nation’s people.
Modern American culture praises the concept and thought of diversity through cultural awareness, but fails to actually follow through with the act of diversifying within the society. This is due to the fact that people want to be around other people who think, act, look, and behave in ways that are very similar to their own. Americans are not only drawn towards people who look like them, but they are also drawn towards those who hold similar values and positions. This desire to be near others who share similar traits and values goes against the desire to be diverse. Today's society is constantly calling for more diversity, yet no one desires to act upon this call and put it into practice correctly.
The age old question that many ask today is “what is an American?” America is continued to be called the “melting pot” of the world. This statement refers to the combination of different cultures and ethnicities throughout the United States. The diversity of America should not take away from the history and foundation it was found upon. ...
Bottaro, Visser and Nigel Worden. 2009. In Search of History Grade 12. South Africa Oxford University Press.
South Africa is a nation with a wonderful and varied culture. This country has been called “The Rainbow Nation”, a name that reflects the diversity of such amazing place. The different ethnic and cultural groups of the South Africa do, however, appreciate their own beliefs and customs. Many of these traditions, besides African culture, are influenced by European and Western heritage. The complex and diverse population of the country has made a strong impact to the various cultures. There are forty-five million people; about thirty million are black, five million white, three million coloured and one million Indians. The black population has a large number of rural people living in poverty. It is among these inhabitants that cultural customs are preserve the most.