Acculturation in the Great American Melting Pot
By Abraham Leon
Metaphors such as “the melting pot” or “salad bowl” are cultural ideas often used to explain America. Selective inclusion for Western European immigrants and others who speak English persists, resulting in a barrier for those who speak a language other than English. Such metaphors fall short of capturing the larger and interconnected historical lessons and realities of oppression which shaped it. With a focus on the experiences of Hispanic and Latino communities, this paper outlines the reality that knowledge of the English language and citizenship, even for second or third generation citizens, are not enough to be accepted as an American, or immune to marginalization.
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