
America,The Blend Of Ethnical Groups
"What then is the American, this new man? He is either a European, or the descendant of a European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country. I could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman, and whose present four sons have now four wives of different nations. . . Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world."
-- Michel St. John De Crevecoeur (1782)
The core American culture that took shape in the first two centuries was a blend of English, Scottish, and Welsh ethnicity and at its heart stood the English language, English common law, and Protestantism. But it is remarkable American core of culture has not shown just British presence, other European is effective too, like German, Hispanic or Greeks. The German presence is extents that close to become their language, official American language.
Moreover the Native Americans who lived in America continent are still inhabitant of America. Blacks or African American that had taken as slaves in primary century of American existence are other intensive ethnical group of America.
Meantime, the render of American ethnical group statistics seem interesting.
African American / Black :751
Asian / Pacific Islander :847
Hispanic :959
Native American :65
White :10,278
Other :239
Not Specified :195
So as we see, America is built by a hundred different ethnic groups; American history is the history of its ethnicities who immigrated to America. But meanwhile, the important point is, perception of these ethnical group thought and values; if these ethnical thought have melted to the core American culture or in other hand as Israel Zangwill said become part of “melting pot” or a salad bowl (mixed but not melted)?!
Whether we should still believe Israel theme that mentioned “all immigrants can be transformed into Americans, a new alloy forged in a crucible of democracy, freedom and civic responsibility”. Or we should consider the new waves in American culture which challenge with new immigrants?
Today, the United States is experiencing its second great wave of immigration, a movement of people that has profound implications for a society that by tradition pays homage to its immigrant roots at the same time it confronts complex and deeply ingrained ethnic and racial divisions.
The immigrants of today come not from Europe but overwhelmingly from the still developing world of Asia and Latin America. The are driving a demographic shift so rapid that within the lifetimes of today's teenagers, no one ethnic group – including whites of European descent – will comprise a majority of the nation's population.
This shift, according to social historians, demographers and others studying the trends, will severely test the premise of the fabled melting pot, the idea, so central to national identity, that this country can transform people of every color and background into "one America."
Hear, maybe hint to James J. Zogby`s research, America — still an ethnic mosaic is remarkable.
He chose for his study the groups collectively make up 40 per cent of American society. African Americans and Hispanics each represent more than 12 per cent of the country. Italian Americans are another 10 per cent. And Asian, Jewish and Arab Americans combine for six percent of the US population.
“Knowing how members of these distinct ethnic groups think is important. Not only is the United States not a homogeneous society, but in many parts of the country, one or more of these groups form a significant percentage of the population and with America becoming more, and not less, diverse, understanding how different groups define themselves, and knowing what they value and how they feel about important issues becomes increasingly vital for policy-makers.”
He found in his study that ethnicity remains an important factor in shaping people's self-definition. More than 85 per cent of all of the individuals in his study express pride in their ethnic heritage; this includes those who are second and third generation Americans. And this heritage, and the shared sense of history, culture and concerns that it represents, does, in fact, have a measurable impact on attitudes.
When more than four in five say that they are proud of their heritage, and when one-third to two-thirds of all of the respondents say that this heritage is very important to their self-definition, then ethnic pride and identification are strongest among immigrants, and only somewhat less strong among college-educated and wealthier native-born Americans, the pull of this force remains quite strong.
More than 50 per cent of all of our respondents retain a “strong emotional tie” to the land of their “heritage”, and almost 20 per cent of those surveyed send money to family in the countries of their background. Instead of a “melting-pot”, America can best be described, as Jesse Jackson would say, as “a mosaic” or a carpet woven of many colours and patterns. While there is an American culture and there are shared American values, this study shows that these coexist with strong distinct ethnic identities that remain a vital factor in shaping values.