Hello everyone, I'm writing this blog on American Multiculturalism. There are four subtopics in American Multiculturalism :
African American Writers
Latina/o Writers
American Indian Literatures
Asian American Writers
What is American Multiculturalism ?
American multiculturalism refers to the cultural diversity and coexistence of various ethnic, racial, religious, and cultural groups within the United States. It is a concept that embraces and celebrates the idea that the country is made up of people from diverse backgrounds, and it recognizes the importance of preserving and respecting the traditions, languages, and identities of these different groups. American multiculturalism has been shaped by centuries of immigration and has contributed to the nation's rich tapestry of cultures and perspectives. It often involves policies and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity, equality, and the recognition of the contributions of all cultural groups to American society.
Introduction :
In American multiculturalism, the changing nature of race and ethnicity in the United States, with a focus on the impact of the Civil Rights Movement and the increasing prevalence of interracial marriage.
In 1965, there were race riots in Watts, which were a sign of the backlash against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which had outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The author then goes on to describe the many ways in which African Americans still faced discrimination in the United States in the 1960s, despite the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
In which discussion of the changing identities of racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The author notes that more and more people are identifying as multiracial, and that the very concept of race is being challenged by scientists. The author cites a 1972 study by Harvard geneticist Richard Lewontin, which found that most genetic differences are within racial groups, not between them. This suggests that race is not a biological reality, but a social construct.
The author's analysis is supported by a variety of evidence, including historical accounts of the Civil Rights Movement, sociological research on race and ethnicity, and genetic studies. The author's argument is also convincing, as it makes sense that as the United States becomes more multicultural, the traditional concept of race will become less relevant.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. says that the word 'race' is a dangerous social construct that we should not use. He believes that it creates a sense of natural difference between people, which can lead to conflict and discrimination. Gates argues that race is a critical feature of American life, but he also believes that it is a source of both conflict and cultural development.
The author then discusses questions of ethnicity and race in multicultural literary studies. The author asks which cultures should be canonized and who decides. The author also asks whether it is good to celebrate differences or to try to preserve differences.
The author concludes by quoting Leon Botstein, who believes that the best way to teach multicultural literature is to combine traditional and newer perspectives. Botstein argues that students should read the Great Books, but they should also read works from other cultures, such as Bernal Diaz's account of the conquest of Mexico.
African American Writers :
African American literature has played a significant role in American literary criticism, spanning from the rediscovery of eighteenth-century poets like Phillis Wheatley to the groundbreaking novels of Toni Morrison. In his work 'Shadow and Act' published in 1964, novelist Ralph Ellison argued that understanding Negro American culture required the development of a more comprehensive theory of American culture as a whole. Today, it's evident that African American culture influences various aspects of American life, including arts, fashion, music, and entertainment. However, during Ellison's time in the 1950s, such a perspective was considered radical.
African American writers often explore themes like a folkloric view of humanity, the concept of 'double consciousness' as coined by W. E. B. DuBois, which stems from a bicultural identity. They employ literary devices such as irony, parody, tragedy, and bitter comedy to navigate this ambivalence. African American literature often critiques the assumed cultural superiority of white culture while emphasizing naturalistic narratives of survival.
Ellison encouraged black writers to trust their own experiences and perceptions of reality. He also celebrated folklore as a wellspring of creativity, highlighting that it was what 'black people had before they knew there was such a thing as art.' This elevation of black folk culture to the status of art was a significant development, although it did lead to differing approaches among black artists. For instance, Zora Neale Hurston's reliance on folklore and dialect sometimes clashed with the preferences of other artists of the Harlem Renaissance, like Langston Hughes, who sought to distance themselves from these 'roots' and embrace the new international forms offered by literary modernism.
African American literature is a rich and diverse tradition that reflects the experiences of African Americans in the United States. It is a literature that has emerged from pain and suffering, but it is also a literature of resilience and hope. The early history of African American literature, from the Colonial period to the Harlem Renaissance. It mentions some of the most important writers of this period, including Harriet E. Wilson, Linda Brent, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and Charles Waddell Chesnutt. These writers often wrote about the challenges of living in a racist society. They also wrote about the importance of family, community, and faith. Their work helped to shape our understanding of race, racism, and the American experience.
Latina/o Writers :
Latina/o writers are a diverse group of people who come from a variety of backgrounds, including Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Nuyorican, Chicano, Huichol, and Maya. Their writing reflects their unique experiences and perspectives, and has had a profound impact on American culture.
One of the most influential Latina/o writers is Sandra Cisneros. Her novel 'The House on Mango Street' tells the story of a young girl growing up in a Chicago barrio. Cisneros's writing is lyrical and evocative, and she gives voice to the lives of people who are often marginalized and unheard.
Another prominent Latina/o writer is Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a filmmaker who has made award-winning films such as 'El Mariachi and Spy Kids.' His films are known for their action, humor, and cultural diversity.
Latina/o writers are enriching American culture in many ways. They are telling stories that have never been told before, and they are challenging our assumptions about what it means to be American.
Mexican American literature is a mix of Spanish and Native American influences. It was created after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, which ended the Mexican-American War and gave the United States half of Mexico's territory.
One of the main themes in Mexican American literature is the concept of borders. This is because Mexican Americans live between two cultures, two languages, and two countries.
Code-switching is when people switch between two languages, such as Spanish and English. Linguists study code-switching to understand why and when people use different languages. They have found that people often code-switch when they are talking about different topics. For example, people might speak Spanish when they are talking about their home, family, or church, but they might speak English when they are talking about work or school.
Liminality is a feeling of being 'in between"' two cultures or identities. This is a common feeling for Latina/os, who may feel like they are both American and Mexican, but neither fully.
Juan Flores and George Yudice say that America is a 'living border' where people and cultures are constantly crossing over. They believe that we need to reimagine America as a more inclusive and multicultural society.
Many 'immigrant' literature explore the themes of crossing over, cultural hiding, alienation, and creating new identities. These writers are challenging us to think about what it means to be American.
The Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s led to a renewed interest in Mexican American culture and politics. World War II had a big impact on Mexican Americans, and many of them became more acculturated, or Americanized.
Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima is a well-known book about the impact of World War II on a small community in New Mexico. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith and Tomás Rivera wrote short stories in Spanish that often focused on the lives of ordinary people.
American Indian Literatures :
American Indians have a rich tradition of storytelling, both oral and written. They prefer to be called 'Native American' or by their tribal name.
There are two types of American Indian literature:
Traditional
Mainstream
Traditional literature is oral and has been passed down for centuries. It is often difficult to translate and is not easy to understand for people who are not familiar with the culture. Mainstream literature is written in English and often explores themes of identity, land, culture, and history.
American Indians do not separate literature from everyday life. Their stories are used to teach people about their heritage and culture. They are also used to perpetuate their heritage and instruct the young.
The first mainstream American Indian author was Samson Occom, who wrote in the late 18th century. Other authors of the 19th and early 20th centuries wrote about Native American rights, the duplicity of the US government, and their own experiences of being Native American.
It was not until the 1960s that American Indian literature became widely known. Kiowa writer M. Scott Momaday won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel 'House Made of Dawn' in 1968. Other important American Indian authors include Louise Erdrich and Joy Harjo.
Erdrich's novels tell the stories of Native American families in North Dakota. Harjo's poetry uses traditional Indian poetic forms to tell the story of Native American survival.
Asian American Writers :
Asian American literature is a tapestry of voices, reflecting the diverse experiences of people of Asian descent in the United States. These writers challenge stereotypes and give voice to the voiceless, writing about everything from the challenges of immigration to the joys of family and community.
One of the earliest forms of Asian American literature was the autobiographical "paper son" story. These stories were fabricated by Chinese immigrant men in order to gain citizenship. They often told tales of their fictitious childhoods in China, with meticulous details about their villages and families.
Another early form of Asian American literature was the "confession." These stories were written by Chinese women who had been rescued from prostitution or migrant labor camps. They often told of their harrowing experiences and their struggles to rebuild their lives.
More recently, Asian American writers have explored a wide range of genres, including fiction, poetry, and drama. Their work often deals with themes of identity, immigration, racism, and community.
Some of the most well-known Asian American writers include:
Maxine Hong Kingston
Amy Tan
Bharati Mukherjee
Khaled Hosseini
Viet Thanh Nguyen
These writers have helped to shape the American literary landscape and to give voice to the experiences of Asian Americans.
Chinese women are the largest and most influential group of Asian American writers. This is ironic because Asian women are often silenced, but they have written many books.
The first Chinese women to become known in the West were daughters of diplomats or scholars, or they were educated in Western mission schools. Two sisters, Edith and Winnifred Eaton, are examples. They moved to the United States with their parents. Edith wrote realistic stories about Chinese people, but Winnifred wrote sentimentalized stories about Japanese people.
Another family of sisters, Adet, Anor, and Meimei Lin, became popular just before World War II. Their best-known work is Dawn over Chunking, a memoir about their experiences during the war. It is a powerful book that describes the horrors of war.
Amy Tan is a well-known Asian American writer. Her book The Joy Luck Club is still popular today. It tells the stories of four Chinese immigrant women and their daughters.
More recently, scholars have begun to pay more attention to Asian American writers from Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines. Some of these writers include Carolyn Lei-lanilau and Lois-Ann Yamanaka.
There is now a growing movement to read works written about the Pacific by Anglo-American authors in the context of works by "local" writers. For example, Jack London's story 'Koolau the Leper' can be read alongside Piilani Kaluaikoolau's 'The True Story of Kaluaikoolau' and W. S. Merwin's epic poem 'The Folding Cliffs: A Narrative.' These three works provide different perspectives on Kauai's most celebrated hero.
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