[realfan87]

Before the the immigration reforms of the 1960's. The US used to have an Anglo derived identity with non English immigrants Anglicizing thier last names to fit in WASP culture and assimilate to mainstream American culture as part of a melting pot theory. AAs during this period lived in a seperate society from mainstream American culture and formed thier own communities.

After the immigration reform of 1964, the US has become a hyphenated Salad Bowl without a collective idenity. Will there ever be a unifying American identity like it used to be?

[Abebpabeniemo]

Will there ever be a unifying American identity like it used to be?

The only way for that to happen would be for the US to "seal itself off" like the Chinese did at one time, but that would be impractical on the current age. The other side of the coin, of course, would be for the US to impose its culture to the rest of the globe, so as any new inmigrants the country were to receive would already be Americanized from the get go.

[niemamczasu]

Also to end ethnic separatism in the US

[invest7manager]

Also to end ethnic separatism in the US

Which is going to take a few generations.

[Clilmence]

Which is going to take a few generations.

I don't see it happening. Americans are too interested in being Irish/German/Jewish/Mexican/what have you rather than just being 'American.'

[Soolfelpecelf]

so it means that the unity existed pre 1964 and dissappeared? I am not sure. What about all those wavs of persecutions of various nations- in XIX and XX century? Irish, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Jewish, noone was safe at this or that stage. I wouldnt call it unity, I think theres more unity now, when whatever is before the hyphen is more symbolic than a reason to real racial persecution like it was in the past.

[u8MmZFmF]

Its funny because in parts of the old world, if you say for instance you are Italian or refer to yourself as a hyphenated American they'll laugh at you and say "no you are where you were born". This is particularly true for Italy. The locals tend to view returning Americans of Italian ancestry who attempt to ID strongly as being Italian as Americans or wannabes.

Others I've talked to from Europe from other places say generally the same thing. Understandable to an extent and truthfully one isn't so Old World after generations of living in the New World.

I try not to identifiy myself as a hyphenated American but don't always feel as American as I could be because of the WASP issue and the fact that I don't take to everything that America has become in some ways, like eating badly and having a lot of arm fat.

[feAilei1]

I don't see it happening. Americans are too interested in being Irish/German/Jewish/Mexican/what have you rather than just being 'American.'

I could see glimpses of it happening on West Coast. After a generation or so, alot of the children of Asian and Latin American immigrants tend be more Americanized culturally than carry on thier parents culture where they came from. And theres less European ethnic IDs among Whites than on the East Coast. Most Whites just consider themselves Americans over here.

[TeksPaisimi]

I think that people often make the mistake of comparing America to other places and judging it by foreign standards. From it's inception America has been a collection of independent and individual identities. Each state has its own culture, and governs itself in regards to local issues. Above this is an over arching national identity and function, in which the states come together in regards to issues concerning the nation as a whole. All of the racial and cultural groups do not have to be intergrated together in order for an " American Identity" to exist. I would say that it already does exist.

[DoctorTentonyya]

There were studies I read few years ago claiming the USA have an even stronger potential to assimilate newcomers into the mainstream in comparison to previous periods. This can't happen without an identity. David Beckham's grandchildren may well consider themselves Americans too.

[FjFHQLJQ]

me and my buds would root for a white mma fighter or a boxer against the black fighter even if black dude is american and white dude ain't. dunno if that helps the discussion

[Imiweevierm]

so it means that the unity existed pre 1964 and dissappeared? I am not sure. What about all those wavs of persecutions of various nations- in XIX and XX century? Irish, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Jewish, noone was safe at this or that stage. I wouldnt call it unity, I think theres more unity now, when whatever is before the hyphen is more symbolic than a reason to real racial persecution like it was in the past.

Before 1964, European immigrants generally shed thier old world allegances(with the exception of the catholic immigrants), to assimilate into WASP society, which is the reason why there isn't a German speaking community when Germans are a significant part of the US. But this was when the US was 88% European descendants. Now its a bit different.

[Nurfzerne]

Americans today, of any ethnic or national descent, will not be recognized by others as other than Americans. If a European- American goes to Europe, he's looked at as an American, not a European. An African-American would not be seen as African in Africa either, he or she would be American. We have SOMETHING here that is recognized worldwide as American, and that's regardless of where your ancestors came from. Even a person born elsewhere but raised here has this American identity. I know a person born in Mexico in a small town, migrated to the US with parents at 4 yrs old is seen as American there, not a Mexican. There's something.

---------- Post added 2012-06-12 at 11:14 ----------

me and my buds would root for a white mma fighter or a boxer against the black fighter even if black dude is american and white dude ain't. dunno if that helps the discussion

All I can say is, you and your buds better start voting for equal and fare rights for minorities, you're gonna need them.

[treawittelf]

me and my buds would root for a white mma fighter or a boxer against the black fighter even if black dude is american and white dude ain't. dunno if that helps the discussion

I got a question for you. Would you fight with together with a Black, against lets say a foriegn invader or terrorist who is the same race as you ?

[Wdlglivi]

In countries like America assimilation is very easy. Much easier then becoming French for example.

[Maryjasmine]

me and my buds would root for a white mma fighter or a boxer against the black fighter even if black dude is american and white dude ain't. dunno if that helps the discussion

LMFAO!!!! I dont know why thats so funny to me! I actually weirdly respect that. Ultimate Loyalty lol

[chipkluchi]

All I can say is, you and your buds better start voting for equal and fare rights for minorities, you're gonna need them.

yeah, I'm shaking in mah boots

[Quigoxito]

In countries like America assimilation is very easy. Much easier then becoming French for example.

Ineed. All you have to do is speak English and move here and there you go, you are an American.

[nuncEtedben]

Ineed. All you have to do is speak English and move here and there you go, you are an American.

If that were true...

[nushentelve]

I got a question for you. Would you fight with together with a Black, against lets say a foriegn invader or terrorist who is the same race as you ?

yes. when I'm rooting for a white fighter (which I don't personally know any white dudes here, in Michigan who was rooting for Chris Byrd - a black dude from Flint, Michigan against the Klit bros) - I'm in a way "identifying" with that fighter because of his race.
when we're talking invasion or smth like that, that's a diff story altogether.