Quote:
Originally posted by mccoyred:
Soror, I have heard the term 'stew' used to express this concept. If we think about it, a stew has many large chunks of the ingredients; while all ingredients are combined, they retain their identity and add their own unique flavor to the pot. Whereas a 'melting pot' implies assimilation into one w/o retaining any of the original identity.
Historically, the US has been referred to as a melting pot and I beleive that is exactly what was meant. But in this age of 'multiculturalism' a 'stew' would be a more accurate description. WOuld you agree?
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SOROR-GIRL! You know we must be bonding with all the emailing back anf forth.
You took the words out of my mouth!
I had come back to add the stew example. The imagry you gave is exactly why many academics in both Africana and multicultural studies adovcate use of the srew rather than melting pot. The time and place where the melting pot was language was first coined reflects that it was meant to denote a lessing of cultural identity. The American expectation has long been that imigrants of all kinds who come here can as long as they learn to be like us.
VictoriaSecret- I appreciate you personal take on the term, my statement is meant to reflect what the up and coming views are from an Africana stand point. (my major- back in the day)
I would not say our ancestors would necessarily put our agenda before others. I would just say I cannot know what was in their minds. I would not base my arguement for what I think is right on what I guess they might have wanted if I don't know multiculturalism like I have defined it was their true vision. ALso, given the State of Black America today, who knows what they would have continued to want. Many of the civil rights eneration would argue we have lost ground in many areas despite our gains in others. What we (and I don;t just mean me and you- I mena all African-Americans) need to focus more on is what WE think here, today, while paying honmage to thier efforts and remembering thier struggle. Feel me? The names you listed alone all had differeing goals in thier own lives and work in the struggle, not to mention differnt approaches. Furhter, I do not believe multi-culturalism that allows for the maintaining of cultural identity would esxist with out some level of seperation. Even with in one racial group, people of like traditions and outlooks tend to stick together socially so that would be reasonably expected to continue. The difference I envison would be that such seperation would not be a matter of fear or prejudice. It would be true freedom of choice in movement and real equal opportunity. (Of course none of this is even touching the economic aspect of the de facto segregation that goes on today, but that would be another thread all together.)
Happy friday!
[This message has been edited by Kimmie1913 (edited May 04, 2001).]