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Assimilation in America

Assimilation in America. The People, the Problems, the Poetry. Assimilation in America:. Defining an Idea. “…the merging of cultural traits from previously distinct cultural groups, not involving biological amalgamation…” Random House Dictionary, 2010

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Assimilation in America

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  1. Assimilation in America The People, the Problems, the Poetry.

  2. Assimilation in America: Defining an Idea • “…the merging of cultural traits from previously distinct cultural groups, not involving biological amalgamation…” • Random House Dictionary, 2010 • “The process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.” • American Heritage Dictionary, 2010 • “…the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another…” • WordNet, Princeton University, 2010

  3. Melting Pot v. Salad Bowl

  4. DREAM Act, 2010 • Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. • Started in 2001, has gone through many changes since then. • “The United States is missing out on talented workers and entrepreneurs, and is losing vital tax revenues and other economic contributions.” • http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/dream-act-2010

  5. Approach • Interviews • I first conducted some interviews with immigrants/2nd generation immigrants I knew. • Asked questions on culture shock, language and other societal obstacles. • “I never thought about that.” • Poetry • Asked each person I interviewed if they’d be interested in sharing poetry on their experience with me. • Submitting my own poetry. • Circulation • I created very cheap versions of “chapbooks” • Each section contains a brief description of the poets and the country they came from. • Distributing the chapbooks just to sort of “get the word out”. And shoe similarities between experiences.

  6. Juan and Joy Pawirosetiko Ages: Juan 19, Joy 18 Nationality: Indonesian (Javanese) and French Born: Surinam

  7. Selected Q&A – Juan & Joy • Q: Why come to America? When? • Parents wanted a better educational opportunity for them. • August 3rd, 2001. • Acquisition of Language? Culture? • Parents were both fluent in English before moving. • Babysitter was Guianese and Jamaican and spoke very Pidgin’d English to them both. • They both felt that assimilation was easier for them because of the age. • Culture Shock? • Felt more of a culture shock when they returned to Surinam. • Teased and called Americanized.

  8. Jorge Duque Age: 24 Nationality: Colombian Born: Cali, Colombia

  9. Selected Q&A – Jorge Duque • Q: Why come to America? When? • Because of violence, mostly due to drug trafficking • 1989, at age 3 • Acquisition of Language? Culture? • Parents and two sisters only spoke Spanish • Since he moved while young, learned it very quick. • Learning English was different for parents. (Worries) • People assuming you’re dumb because of an accent. • Interesting Comments • “My American friends do not consider me American…and my Colombian relatives do not consider me Colombian.” • “I have now moved to France…in no way under the same circumstances as my parents…but it has taught me that assimilation is truly important…”

  10. “Returning Home” • Joy & Juan • On either of their visits back to Surinam, they have felt that their family didn’t truly accept them as their own. • Most notable were the differences between cultures. • The attitude in Surinam is easy going, doing one thing at a time, as opposed to American (specifically New Yorker) attitudes. • Judged on their clothes. • Insisted on them speaking Dutch. • Movie theaters considered a fancy outting. • “It was like a weird kind of middle.

  11. “Returning Home” • Jorge • Felt a mixture of emotions, “like I was ‘home’” • “I also felt alienated by a ‘mass culture’ I was unaccustomed to.” • Describes having grown up feeling like his “house” being Colombian and his “world” being American. • Called “el gringo” by cousins and family. • At first afraid of speaking to strangers because they would hear his accent and know he didn’t live there.

  12. And Now, Some Poetry. • Seemingly So, by Joy Pawirosetiko. • Untitled, by Juan Pawirosetiko.

  13. Reflection • I think what mostly struck me were the similarities between the people I interviewed. • I’d hoped to show more, but I ran out of chapbooks but can bring in more Thursday if you all really want some! • I feel poetry is a great medium for expression of these different peoples, especially with bilingual poetry.

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