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The myth of individual opportunity is the idea that America being the land of limitless opportunity, suggests that individuals can go as far as their own merit takes them as long as they put forth the work and effort. It implies that there is “a fair competition for success that is not rigged according to race, gender, or family history” ( Colombo 254). However, merit is not the only factor that goes into deciding who will succeed in life and obtain wealth. Race, gender, and family history play a greater role in determining someones success more than merit does. The myth of the melting pot reveals how various cultural heritage, tradition, and influences are “melted” together to form what is known as the American cultural. The myth of the melting pot implies that people are forced to conform to Anglo-American traditions and ignore their homeland traditions. Both myths leave room for dispute and improvement, yet have endured for so long because they remain relevant to modern society.
Alternative versions of our national identity, such as tossed salad and mosaic, have been established due to the limitations of the metaphor, the melting pot. Jesse Jackson described his view of our nation as “America being like a quilt; many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven together by a common thread”. These metaphors allow us to acknowledge and value our differences in physical appearance, language, and culture but affirm that there is still something that unites us as a nation. Through saluting the flag, Fourth of July celebrations, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, national anthem, and common language; these American traditions and holidays help our nation feel connected to one another despite ethnic and cultural differences.
In the poem, Child of the Americas, Morales celebrates her diverse mixture of cultures that represent her heritage and her identity as an American. Morales states that she is “a child of many diaspora, born into this continent at a crossroads”, alluding to the fact that she is an immigrant. All Americans are immigrants except for Native American Indians, which results in the diversity of our nation. She goes on to say “I am not African, Africa is in me...I am not European, Europe lives in me” (Morales 512). This metaphor highlights the few cultures from which Americans today come from. Although Morales is not of African and European descent, she still identifies with the two cultures because she is surrounded by them by living in America. Europeans being the first to migrant to America and Africans being forced to come to America; both cultures have endured hardship and made their mark on society which constitutes them as Americans. Morales states that she was born at a crossroads, indicating that there is no standard or typical American because Americans come from a melting pot of different cultures. The various cultural heritage, tradition, and influences are combined together to form what is known as the American cultural. Morales understands her own heritage and the different heritages that surround her. Her first language was spanglish, which further justifies how cultures are combined to make one. It is through the knowledge of this diversity that Americans are Americans.
James McBride's, The Boy in the Mirror, is journey about McBride's experience on his struggle in trying to understand his mixed heritage. He is Jewish and an African American boy who did not appear to be African American due to his light complexion, good hair, and white mother. However, everyone knew he was of African descent, “being the token Negro was something I was never entirely comfortable with” (McBride 412). He was the only black kid in his class and grew victimed to racist slurs. He created an imaginary world to escape his harsh reality. He would lock himself in the bathroom and talk to the boy in the mirror, himself. He would ask his mother if he was black or white and she would reply “you're a human being” (McBride 414). He grew embarrassed of his white mother and his mixed heritage and felt it would be easier to just be one color. McBride wanted to feel like apart of one culture not a part of two and he also wanted his mother to be black instead of white. People battle with their identity all the time, especially in America. Because America is composed of so many diverse groups of individuals, it can be easy to try or want to conform to something other than your own culture. However, diversity is what makes up America. The myth of the melting pot does not entail that everyone is exactly the same. It indicates that diverse groups of individuals joining together to become one illustrate what it means to be American. When people become American they do not completely ignore or disown their original heritage. People always address their original heritage first then add on their American identity; African American, Asian American.
Alternative versions of our national identity, such as tossed salad and mosaic, have been established due to the limitations of the metaphor, the melting pot. Jesse Jackson described his view of our nation as “America being like a quilt; many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven together by a common thread”. These metaphors allow us to acknowledge and value our differences in physical appearance, language, and culture but affirm that there is still something that unites us as a nation. Through saluting the flag, Fourth of July celebrations, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, national anthem, and common language; these American traditions and holidays help our nation feel connected to one another despite ethnic and cultural differences.
In the poem, Child of the Americas, Morales celebrates her diverse mixture of cultures that represent her heritage and her identity as an American. Morales states that she is “a child of many diaspora, born into this continent at a crossroads”, alluding to the fact that she is an immigrant. All Americans are immigrants except for Native American Indians, which results in the diversity of our nation. She goes on to say “I am not African, Africa is in me...I am not European, Europe lives in me” (Morales 512). This metaphor highlights the few cultures from which Americans today come from. Although Morales is not of African and European descent, she still identifies with the two cultures because she is surrounded by them by living in America. Europeans being the first to migrant to America and Africans being forced to come to America; both cultures have endured hardship and made their mark on society which constitutes them as Americans. Morales states that she was born at a crossroads, indicating that there is no standard or typical American because Americans come from a melting pot of different cultures. The various cultural heritage, tradition, and influences are combined together to form what is known as the American cultural. Morales understands her own heritage and the different heritages that surround her. Her first language was spanglish, which further justifies how cultures are combined to make one. It is through the knowledge of this diversity that Americans are Americans.
James McBride's, The Boy in the Mirror, is journey about McBride's experience on his struggle in trying to understand his mixed heritage. He is Jewish and an African American boy who did not appear to be African American due to his light complexion, good hair, and white mother. However, everyone knew he was of African descent, “being the token Negro was something I was never entirely comfortable with” (McBride 412). He was the only black kid in his class and grew victimed to racist slurs. He created an imaginary world to escape his harsh reality. He would lock himself in the bathroom and talk to the boy in the mirror, himself. He would ask his mother if he was black or white and she would reply “you're a human being” (McBride 414). He grew embarrassed of his white mother and his mixed heritage and felt it would be easier to just be one color. McBride wanted to feel like apart of one culture not a part of two and he also wanted his mother to be black instead of white. People battle with their identity all the time, especially in America. Because America is composed of so many diverse groups of individuals, it can be easy to try or want to conform to something other than your own culture. However, diversity is what makes up America. The myth of the melting pot does not entail that everyone is exactly the same. It indicates that diverse groups of individuals joining together to become one illustrate what it means to be American. When people become American they do not completely ignore or disown their original heritage. People always address their original heritage first then add on their American identity; African American, Asian American.
