The American and European continent seem to be the most widely associated with multiculturalism and diversity. America is a country host to millions of people belonging to various backgrounds, ethnicities, religious and races who have somehow assimilated and learned to live together. There are many questions that have been raised against the term, whether multiculturalism is beneficial for a country or does it degrade its status. The problem is that a country is mainly known for a typical kind of people establishing a certain area and living in it. For example, they might be of the same skin color, have the same mother tongue and share a similar ancestral background perhaps. When, in such an area, people of varying skin colors, backgrounds and language migrate and shift, the original inhabitants of the area can become hostile and think of these migrants as troublemakers and unwelcomed individuals (Jonas). However, there is no harm in multiculturalism; in fact, it is beneficial for society on many levels. In a country like America especially, multiculturalism has played a huge role in uplifting the society and enhancing it, making it safer for foreigners to migrate and live in the country and contribute to it in their own way.
There are several sociological concerns harnessed by a nation when it is supporting a multicultural and diverse population within its national boundaries. The people get worried, firstly about the security issues which arise out of living amongst foreigners. Not only foreign, but the concern also arises out of those people living in the same country but moving into a different State, perhaps out of better future prospects, educational or work purposes. People fear that such people moving into their neighborhoods will probably lead to trouble as per the stereotypes relevant to various ethnic minorities. This is especially true of the African American minorities which have faced substantial discrimination at the hands of the white majority in the country. The other factor is the recent ambush on Muslims and Muslim immigrants in the country. With a stigma of terrorism and a label as extremist and violent humans, Muslims face much discrimination at the hands of locals who blame them for terrorist activities and insidious agendas against the American population and every other non-Muslim. Studies have shown that Muslim are racially profiled, and are targeted by the civilians because of the prevailing concept of Islamophobia (Jonas). Not only is it the general mindset of the people, rather it is perpetuated by the media and several political members of America. This has created a lot of psychological and social problems amongst the members of the same community.
The white American has come to adjust his status in a fast developing nation in the 20th century which saw the country merge into a diversity of ethnic groups in a predominant ethnic group. It has never been easy because, on the one hand where there have been tolerant members of the country, there have been the intolerant ones who could not stand another group of people living amongst them. However, America shaped herself into a more impassive nation by assimilating and letting the other groups live in harmony. A few concerns hovered over this, such as the effect of other cultures over the true American culture and what would become of the future generations if they lived amongst diversity. The truth is that multiculturalism actually enhances the status of a country and makes it a more prominent and acceptable one on the face of the globe (Boundless). America, for instance, is known as the hub of multiculturalism because the people of various races and ethnicities have settled there and they have been living there since ages. Even their future generations have lived in the country, and many of them are settled as permanent citizens.
Not only does the country then, provide a home for these people but it also allows them to carry out various practices such as freedom of cultural rights and traditions, freedom to practice their religion, and to speak the language they want in their home and amongst family and friends without any constraint. This portrays a very positive image of the country worldwide, showing that the general American population is peaceful and welcoming. Multiculturalism allows the country to have diverse groups of people who have their own talents, backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses (Volokh). Certain ethnicities carry their stereotypes around such as Asians being smart and meticulous in academics, or the African Americans being good in music and the arts. This is the very reason why American society is diverse, and this diversity is portrayed by the media where people from all kinds of backgrounds are shown contributing to the welfare of the country in their own way.
Accepting a religion or culture also doesn’t really matter when a person has lived in a country for a long time. While some people would believe that multiculturalism is catalytic in changing the true American culture, they forget that the dominant culture will be the one adapted first hand. This is especially true of younger children in the country whose mother tongue might be foreign but they grasp American English first thing once they start talking (Boundless). Sticking to the roots is common for all cultures worldwide, hence, if a foreigner sticks to their culture in America, then any broad-minded, educated American would know they are only trying to preserve and remember their roots, rather than acting as a threat to the American culture and identity.
Today, multiculturalism is so common in America that it hardly appears as a problem for the country. People from various ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are found in all walks of life in the American society; in business and in daily life. In fact, it would not be a surprise for an American to spot a dark skinned or yellow skinned individual and feel they are out of place in the country. Sociology allows people to assess this in the form of asking them directly or through surveys in schools, colleges or the workplace, whether the typical white American male or female thinks multiculturalism has helped the society or resulted in its downfall. Not only will this help to clarify misconceptions, but it will also help to prove that the society is benefiting from multiculturalism. Taking a common example such as that of the workplace, all students know they are taught about the value of diversity in the workplace (Jonas). Diversity is important because it helps to scoop out more ideas and information from people whose mindsets and thought processes might differ from one another even if slightly. Diversity is not only the matter of hiring an equitable number of females to males; rather it is the act of providing an equal chance of employment to the person of a different cultural and ethnic background than the typical white American. It is also not true that American society has moved a long mile from the typical prejudice and resentment they felt against the non-whites in the country, especially following the abolition of slavery. People have become more tolerant, and this is especially true of the newer generations. Mindsets have altered, and people believe that it is important to embrace and live with the rest of the ethnicities in peace because this is what civilized nations do (Wilkinson).
In conclusion, it is true that multiculturalism and diversity enhance a country and uplift it as a freedom-loving nation. America has moved on and gotten past its prejudices and even though some might remain today, they are a cause of the media and political brouhaha surrounding non-whites. Overall, multiculturalism is a blessing for a country like America as it has helped it succeed and many important personalities of the country are non-whites and belong to diverse backgrounds.
Work Cited
Boundless. A Multicultural society. Boundless, 26 May 2016. Web. 12 June 2016.
Jonas, Michael. “The downside of diversity - the Boston globe.” Globe Newspaper. 5 Aug. 2007.
Web. 12 June 2016.
Volokh, Eugene. “The American Tradition of Multiculturalism.” Washington Post. 27 Jan. 2015.
Web. 12 June 2016.
Wilkinson, A B. “U.S. Multiculturalism or Cultural Assimilation?” Huffington Post. 1 Oct. 2015.
Web. 12 June 2016.
