Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Civil Rights
The documentary we watched today in lecture highlighted a new sense of what nationalism means to minority/immigrant groups. As Mexican-Americans were fighting for their rights to land, the activism they portrayed was a sense of collective unity of their Mexican roots and heritage. Similarly they identified with other minority groups who were also fighting for their civil rights, therefore, creating a further sense of collective identity and nationalism in regards to their minority group status. I feel that U.S. nationalism transformed through civil rights movements as a form of embracing one's cultural origins and creating awareness of the struggles their ancestors (as well as current struggles) within the white patriarchal society of America. U.S. Nationalism, along with the American national identity are not fixed, they are both fluid and change depending on the generation and societal climate of the time. As America was discovered and claimed as the "new world" it took on the identity of having to incorporate ethnic immigrants, and through civil rights movements, U.S. nationalism became a simultaneous mix of ethnic identity and American identity. The collective acknowledgement of minority groups civil rights movements introduced a collaborative sense between minority groups, when earlier in U.S. history, some minority groups were said to be hostile to newly arriving immigrant groups not recognizing the common oppressions they faced. Is there ever going to be a concrete national identity or sense of U.S. nationalism? Does America thrive on the social hierarchies that oppress members of minority groups?
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I definitely agree with a lot of the concerns you raised. I think national identity is a fluid concept, ever changing, always adapting. Depending on the concerns and the perceptions of a particular time period, the national identity usually molds to either include or exclude another characteristic of the American national identity.
ReplyDeleteAlso, an important part of national identity in the United States (something we have discussed but never truly identified) is the tone of superiority that the popular identity typically demonstrates. This idea of superiority, whether it be racial superiority or class superiority or gender superiority, usually entails a victim role: the racial minorities, the poor and the women. So in that sense, I think that in many instances America has thrived on racial and social hierarchies. And these hierarchies have oppress many people.
It appears that the United States have had a long history of forming its national identity through the exclusion of minority groups. There doesn't seen to be one definite answer as to what American nationalism is; rather, what the U.S. at the time doesn't want it to be. I think that many people associate nationalism with unity and conformity in a sense. Society has a way of pushing back against these minority groups because they do not so easily fit into this mold.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the U.S. tends to form its national identity through the creation of "superior" groups. This in a sense is human nature, as we often feel most comfortable around the people that are most like us. In that sense there is "strength in numbers", which may begin to explain why through history we have marginalized various minority groups. People tend to derive a sense of security from remaining with similar company.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mexican-Americans should be more respected as Americans yet, I feel that a few things need to change before that happens. Many immigrants make no effort to become citizens or learn English when the move to the states. This is disrespectful to Americans who would be more welcoming if they knew that the Mexicans wanted to be American. Also, they don't need to completely let go of their ties to their homeland but should try to be more patriotic to the place they currently reside. I am not talking about all immigrants but many in my town don't make an effort to speak English and but on protests carrying their Mexican flags. This turns the rest of the community away from them because this is a diverse population connecting many races under basic nationalism. Many other immigrants seemed to be grateful to be here and showed efforts to become American while staying loyal to their background. These immigrants have become much more successful in being accepted and part of a nation.
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