American National Identity

1
American National Identity

• Identity and Culture
• National Identity Two Concepts
• Challenges to Assimilation/Pluralism
• Debating Diversity

2
Identity and Culture

• Concrete Clothes, food, music, games etc.
• Behaviorallanguage, gender roles, family
  structure etc.
• Symbolicvalues and beliefs (spirituality,
  religion, worldview etc.)

3
National Identity Two Concepts

• Assimilationmetaphor of the melting
  potconcerned with preserving unityhistory of
• Pluralismmetaphor of the salad bowlconcerned
  with preserving diversityhistory of

4
Challenges to Assimilation

• American culture narrowly defined as
  Anglo-European excludes contributions of other
  ethnic groups
• History is told selectively ignores genocide,
  enslavement, and imperialist expansion
• Doesnt value diversity

5
Challenges to Pluralism

• Obsessed with what is wrong with America rather
  than what is right
• Tendency to essentialize marginalized groups and
  romanticize them
• Focused on the politics of recognition at the
  expense of unity

6
One AnswerAmericans United by Shared Ideals

• Human Equality
• Inalienable or Human Rights
• Civil Rights
• Pursuit of Happiness
• Consent of the Governed
• Problems with this Answer

7
Another AnswerAmericans United By
Culture/Language

• Culture defined as dynamic evolves out of
  multiple ethnic heritages
• Language defined as English but spoken in many
  dialects
• Problem with this answer

8
Debating American Unity/Diversity

• Contemporary debate centers on foundations for
  moral authority sexuality / gender
  race/ethnicity social class
• Well explore the specifics of these issues
  throughout the semester