Immigrants face difficulties when they are caught in the middle of two cultures. It becomes difficult for some to easily integrate while others try so much to fit in amid several challenges. There is always an effort to assimilate or incorporate a micro culture into a macro culture in trying to make one homogenous group, but it is not as easy as it seems especially when members of the micro culture are not ready to accept the macro culture. It is even worse off when the micro group does not speak the same language as the macro group. In the context of the United States, people of all races and cultural backgrounds have found their way into the country over the years (Tong 111). America is called the world’s ‘melting pot’ but it is difficult to say whether immigrants easily assimilate without feeling that they are leaving their cultures of first languages for new ones. Different writers have explored this phenomenon and they try to illustrate how this affects members of the micro group as well as the macro group. Normally, cultural identity is considered a personalized way of identifying oneself and at the mere thought of losing it leads to loss of an identity that makes people so proud. But there are different ways that have been prescribed, what can help assimilate immigrants without making them feel bad about the process.
At first when people try to fuse into another culture, they are met with culture shock. There are those who show the physical struggle that comes with cultural assimilation while others prefer to keep to themselves albeit feeling bad about it. First, it is imperative to help immigrants deal with culture shock so as to help them transition smoothly into mainstream American culture. Among the several ways of educating them about this, they need to be given knowledge about what they should expect from the rest of the society so that they are not met with shock and disbelief incase the culture is different from theirs (Salins 84). A case in point is with immigrants from Muslim countries, who are not used to the American dress code. Their women always dress in veils and long black dresses unlike in the US where women dress scantly and no one seems to care. These immigrants need to be told that is the norm and that it should not affect their view and distract them from having a good life in the United States. Immigrants will, therefore learn to be tolerant and non- judgmental because if they do they will not accept the American culture as one that suits them.
The bond that can be formed by the use of a common language perhaps is the best thing that can unite immigrants and the rest of Americans. Immigrants come into America speaking a different language other than English. They struggle to understand other people and to be understood themselves because chances are that they may not have anyone who speaks their language to act as an interpreter. When they learn the acceptable language of communication, they can easily get assimilated without necessarily having to practice what Americans do. If immigrants get isolated even from the point of communication, it becomes difficult for them to fit into a society that may never understand them (Pink & Noblit17). It is funny that all immigrants do not come from one region or part of the world to speak a common language themselves. It is not that their first language will help them acculturate into the American society. The bottom line is that they will need to speak a language that will help them integrate easily with the rest of their communities where they live. Learning English language will come in handy in helping them do so and this won’t make them forget their first language but for the sake of communication they will have no choice but to learn English.
Education is also a sure ticket that will enable immigrants assimilate well in the United States. It is believed that education is the key to success and this is true for sure when it comes to living in the United States. There are immigrants who come into the country with little or no education at all. Many Americans are uneducated lot and many of them believe in education. Education helps people secure jobs but this does not mean that those who are uneducated do not get jobs. Lower levels of education leads to lower carder jobs which do not pay will. When that is the case those who do such jobs do not earn much to lead a descent living. The situation is made a lot worse if those lacking a descent living are immigrants because they will feel frustrated and even want to go back to their home counties. It is of importance that immigrants secure an education if they want their life in the United States to be secured (Dimitrova, Bender, & Vijver 209). While it is easier for the first generation immigrants to survive with minimal education, it gets a lot difficult for their offspring to survive because America is getting more competitive everyday, at least in the job market.
Provision of resource centers is another important way through which immigrants can be assimilated into the American society easily without making them feel lacking and out of place. These resources centers will engage them in activities that will empower them and make their life bearable without making them feel as if giving up their cultures is too much. They can still hold on to their cultures but go to national libraries as a resource center to study. It is not that in doing so they will be forced to abandon their beliefs, practices and cultures, but they will get empowerment for easy settling down and conforming to the expectations of the American society (Scheidegger 72). If at all they fail to do so, there is so much they will be missing on in terms of daily routines and activities that will make their life easy. Also, assisting them through provisions such as welfare will make their settling in and assimilation less problematic.
It is believed that faith and religious beliefs unite all those who share common ones. Faith and religion can be a very important tool that can be used in communities of immigrants, especially those who do not speak English. Faith based initiatives reach out to all people regardless of their religions and races, and they tend to unite them and make immigrants feel at home. Most religions advocate for love for one another as well as accommodating one another because it is a decree from most Holy Scriptures which different faiths believe. If only faith and religion could be used as a way of assimilating immigrants, then they can easily feel at home and that they belong without making them feel that they are less superior to the rest of the Americans (Borjas 32). Religion and faith as a tool that can be used to encourage the participation of immigrants in the day to day operations of the American society, and immigrants will not feel as if they are intimidated in any way because religion will have unified them and made them feel at home. Religion and faith will go a long way in creating immigrants who will learn to live with the American principle of liberal democracy and egalitarian principles which make them equal to the rest of the population without making them feel as if they are giving up too much in order to make them belong.
It is important to look at how crucial it is to empower immigrants and make life bearable for them when they are just starting their journey in America. One of the things that will be of help to them is giving them marketable skills in apprenticeships in order to equip them with survival tactics that will get them started in case they are new comers. As for those who have stayed longer, they can also be empowered with knowledge and skills that will make them get jobs that will give them an income (Chavez 81). If only immigrants could get a few comforts that will make their transitioning process easier, then they may have little or no problem at all assimilating into the American society. If family breadwinners are given an opportunity to earn a descent living and be able to provide family basic needs; it will be easier reaching out to the other members of immigrant families. Empowering new entrants into the United States with knowledge on how to survive as they settle down is good enough because that way, they will have been turned into active members of the society, and hence, they may end up actively employed and together with their families can easily transition to the American society without much of a hassle.
It is believed that the longer a person lives in a place; they become easily assimilated without much effort. Over time they get to know and learn different cultures by way of watching what is happening round them. Some may argue that his is not automatic because many are the instances when people live in a place but do not accept or conform to common practice. But as long as immigrants are willing to interact and integrate with mainstream society, they will not find it difficult coping with popular culture or accepted norms in the American society. It is not that they will be stopped from conforming to their native cultural practices, they can continue doing so for as long as they want, but also have it in mind that it is possible to lead dual life; keeping their practices and also practicing what is acceptable in mainstream American practices (Hoerder118). It will not cost them a lot and in no time, they will realize that it is possible to become Americanized and keep their culture at the same time. In as much as it does not seem to be an easy thing to do and given enough time, they will easily assimilate without struggling a lot. When they stay longer, they will start appreciating the American culture and they will eventually assimilate.
Works Cited
Borjas, George, J. Mexican Immigration to the United States. London: University of Chicago Press, 2007. Print
Chavez, Leo. The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, and the Nation. Second Edition. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2008.
Daniels, Roger & Graham, Otis, L. Debating American Immigration, 1882- Present. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001. Print.
Dimitrova, Radosveta., Bender, Michael, & Vijver, Fons. Global Perspectives on Well- Being in Immigrant Families. New York: Springer, 2013. Print
Hoerder, Dirk. American Labor and Immigration History, 1822- 1920s: Recent European Research. University of Illinois Press.
Pink, William, T. & Noblit, George, W. International Handbook of Urban Education. Dordrecht: Springer, 2008. Print
Salins, Peter, D. Assimilation, American Style. New York: Basic Books, 1997. Print
Scheidegger, Lada, Pashook. Parenting Style, assimilation, and Social Competence in Children of Immigrants. Ann Arbor: ProQuest, 2007
Tong, Yuying. Three Essays on immigrant Assimilation. Ann Arbor: ProQuest, 2007. Print
