Is America a Melting Pot?

Sitting in class during my fifth-grade year, my teacher told us that America is a melting pot. She explained that America is a land of immigrants who all blend together. And that is what makes America so unique.

I envisioned people of all cultures and creeds entering through a doorway. Afterward, they come out to the other side, all sharing aspects of their customs and traditions. I pictured children with a blend of ethnic and racial ambiguity exiting with their blended families. 

As time went on, that image changed.

The melting pot metaphor was accurate long ago.

The notion of America as a melting pot is fundamental to the idea of America itself.

The melting pot is where all groups within society melt together to form one common culture. This idea proved true for its European newcomers and white citizens. Long ago, communities were divided between the various European ethnic groups, with the English Americans as the gatekeepers of the American identity.

Today, the average white American refers to themselves as a “mutt.” This is a reference to one’s ancestry from several European ethnic groups. In the early years, European ethnic groups were viewed almost as individual races. “Purebred” is another term casually used today and signifies one ancestral origin. However, you won’t hear people in the US refer to themselves as purebred anymore because the groups blended into one ethnic group. And that group today is- white.

Actual assimilation is different from the mainstream culture’s definition of assimilation.

Assimilation occurs when different groups come together and develop a shared cultural life. The process of assimilation gains momentum when the groups maintain primary contact relationships with each other. 

Primary contact relationships are our closest relationships. They consist of the people we invite to our homes regularly and the families we marry into, for example. Actual assimilation is not precisely what occurred amongst European-based ethnic groups in the US.

The British-based white American culture remained virtually untouched, with very little influence, if any, from the cultures of later arrivals. The mainstream may have adopted foods like hamburgers and spaghetti, but its traditions and customs remain Anglo-normative.

The Melting Pot is just Anglo Conformity.

In recent years, the US has become more multicultural and accepted by much of its population. Despite this progress, there is still an immense cultural divide between those within the white community and those outside it. There are still numerous examples of racism, bigotry, and discrimination. This indicates how far we still must go regarding racial equality and unity.

Although we may be “melting” together on some level now, it is still evident that certain groups are excluded or underrepresented in white mainstream culture. 

For many, the melting pot idea is Americanization, and Americanization is actually Anglo conformity.

What is Anglo Conformity?

Anglo conformity is the pressure members of racial minority groups feel to assimilate into white Anglo culture.

This pressure is experienced in various ways, including the expectation to speak English only, dress a certain way, and adhere to certain cultural norms and values. Anglo conformity is particularly damaging because it implies that white is the standard and anything else is foreign and strange.

There’s an inherent idea that those wanting to be American should volunteer to shed their foreign cultures and identities. Therefore, when people discuss the need for POC and immigrants to assimilate, they are implying that they must conform to the ways of the white American culture, i.e., conform to Anglo norms.

The Origins of Anglo Conformity

The last great wave of European migration ended in the early 1900s. Most of us have some knowledge about the discrimination that the Irish and Italians faced once they passed through Ellis Island. You may not know that every group that immigrated here after the British faced discrimination and was viewed as a threat to “American” values. 

White Americans belonging to Protestantism and British ancestry were the dominant culture.

And although European newcomers had some advantage in this “new world” simply because they were not Black or Indigenous people of color (which meant they could become citizens). Their foreign languages, not being Protestant, and very slight differences in complexion were seen as a genuine threat. This led to decades of discrimination and marginalization.

To anglicize means: to make English in form or character. POC aren’t the only ones subjected to Anglicizing one’s name. Families changed German, Irish, Scandinavian, and Slavic names to find acceptance within the new society. Braun became Brown, Busch became Bush, Fuchs became Fox, and so on.

Although immigrant groups such as the Irish and Italians were not considered white at first, who is white in America has broadened throughout its history. Because they were European and, within a few decades, entirely conformed to Anglo culture, they eventually became white.

Culture in the Present Day

The inability to fully assimilate into the white American culture due to racial differences has enabled minority groups to retain aspects of the cultures of our ancestors.

Today we see more and more actors and artists insist on using their birth names. A common justification for the Anglicization of names is to make them ‘easier’ to pronounce and spell. Those refusing to conform maintain people can learn how to pronounce and spell their given name. As it should be!

Unfortunately, this exclusion extends beyond just race—ethnicity also plays a prominent role in how people are treated. For example, Native Americans face disproportionately high levels of poverty and health issues due to generations of systematic oppression and discrimination against their population. 

Likewise, Latinx communities have seen limited access to resources such as education and higher wages despite making up over 18 percent of the US population today. This disparity points to lingering bias against them in many aspects of our society.

The Pressure to Conform

For members of racial minorities, the pressure to conform to Anglo culture can be intense.

Children may be encouraged by their parents to speak English and “fit in” with their white peers. At the same time, adults may be pressured only to speak English and even change their clothing or mannerisms to appear more “acceptable” to employers. While subtle, these pressures contribute to losing identity and disconnection from one’s heritage.

Anglo-conformity has been America’s version of assimilation for hundreds of years. This is not because immigrant communities happily oblige. Instead, people conform out of a need to be accepted, thrive within society, and achieve upward mobility. The hope is not only to lessen the extent of prejudice they themselves face but that their children might avoid the same prejudices they encountered.

Understandably, new arrivals must adapt enough to carry on within their adopted society and accept and be willing to uphold the laws of the land. Besides that, there is no good reason to expect total conformity by abandoning our ethnic expression and cultural differences. 

As a collective, it is up to the members of the white culture to start building bridges between different cultures instead of fostering resentment and, in some cases, hate between them because we may look different from them or practice different customs than what they consider “traditional American values.”

The Impact of Anglo Conformity

The impact of Anglo conformity can be seen in a variety of ways.

For example, members of racial minority groups may experience a loss of pride in their heritage and culture as they feel alienated and disconnected from it. In addition, retaining one’s ethnic and cultural identity can lead to a loss of opportunities for racial minorities, as employers may be more likely to hire those who fit the “standard” of being “American.”

But there are things we can start doing to make the need to conform a thing of the past. It may not happen right away or even in our own lifetime, but we can do things now that will help sow the seeds of change and prevent the erasure of our cultures.

Rejecting Anglo Conformity

Rejecting Anglo conformity is vital to creating a more inclusive and diverse America.

This can be done by allowing those of all races and cultures to express themselves and their traditions without fear of judgment or discrimination. Additionally, it is essential to recognize that everyone belongs regardless of race and culture. Remembering that everyone has something to contribute to the American culture is crucial. By rejecting Anglo Conformity, we can ensure that everyone is respected and valued for who they are.

What to do as racial minorities:

1. Understand why you’re feeling this pressure. Is it coming from external sources, or is it internalized?

The pressure to conform from external sources is more straightforward to pinpoint than recognizing internalized pressure. In either case, examine why you’re feeling this way. Is it because the family of your significant other treats you differently and has expressed the relationship won’t last because of your differences? As a child, were you made to feel embarrassed by your ethnic expression?

2. Acknowledge that there is nothing wrong with being different.

You can take pride in your culture and still be a part of the mainstream. And if anyone has a problem with it, that’s their issue, not yours. Remember that it is your right to be who you are and pursue your happiness. This is a free country, after all.

3. Seek out and connect with others who share your cultural background.

This will help in the reclamation of your culture and identity. It will also help you maintain traditions otherwise lost to future generations. You can’t shame someone who doesn’t feel ashamed. No one can take away or minimize your pride in who you are and where you come from!

Do you have any experience with the pressure to conform? If so, please share your story below!

Talking about our experiences is one of the most important things we can do for each other and individually. Not only is it validating to hear that others have seen and experienced the same things you have, but you never know when you’ll help another person finally put into words something they’ve suppressed because they didn’t quite understand the situation for what it is. The more awareness, the more likely we will create the change we wish to see!

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