The Great Melting Pot

Tyshaya Pearce

Speech & Composition

Period 7

May 29, 2014

Mr. Fields

The Great Melting Pot

A melting pot refers to the idea that there are multiple races in America. Some people argue that there is or may not be a melting pot in America due to the perception of American actions. After reading and listening to both sides of the argument and explanations as to if America is or is not a melting pot, I’ve came to the conclusion that America is not a melting pot. Instead we are more of a of salad. Heres why!

Although America is diverse, America is not a melting pot. If it is a melting pot, America would not exclude others from coming into America . Richard Rodriguez clearly states that America is trying to stop immigrants from coming into America by building the Great Wall. He mentions, “America is raising a wall in the desert to separate Latin American peasants who will work for low wages from the Americans who would hire them.” We have people who want to come to America because they want the freedom in which they think America has, but American citizens are excluding them. The wall that was built clearly shows the separation it creates between immigrants and citizens and a sense of not belonging because they are not American citizens. A melting pot is having different ethnicities together in one nation in which America has failed to have.

Also, immigrants who are able to come to America feel unwelcomed due to the treatment of American citizens. Immigrants feel that they are unwelcomed because they are excluded from participating in American traditions. For example, in the video analysis: American voices, there was a young women who wished she was an American citizen so that she could participate in the dances they would do when they have parades and different other activities. Due to her not being an American citizen. She could not participate in the dance activity. She was excluded because she was an immigrant. Then, there was a young man who faced brutality because he was not an American citizen. An American citizen hit the immigrant with a rock hitting his forehead. Although we have people coming into America, it does not show that America is a melting pot. America is not a melting pot once again immigrants are being discriminated against due to them not being a citizen. The exclusion and brutality leads to separation within the different ethnicities and different groups people create on their own.

In conclusion, America is a melting pot, but as Joyce Millet points out, it is more like a salad. The comparison between the two is that in a salad, you can see everything, the lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers, and in America you can see the different ethnicities that create separation. The salad is a symbol of explicit, seeing the diversity within the different ethnicities and one that creates unity. There is no unity due to the animosity and hatred Americans tend to show the immigrants within their actions. Therefore, it is not a melting pot.