This is America

If we flash back to the discovery of the Americas, we start at the very beginning of America’s long history of discrimination. The taking of America by Europe led to the mistreatment and violence against the indigenous Native Americans that had inhabited the land previously. Native Americans were forced to assimilate into the new “American” (really European) culture. This meant the spreading of Christianity and the upheaval of the tribal values that the Native Americans held. The White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant European came to be the common American, as many Europeans came across the sea to start the New World. As different European countries colonized, a mixing of nationalities and identities came to define America. But one thing remained: the tendency to discriminate against those with a “different” appearance and culture. Being a true American really means being from Europe, but the white part of Europe, not the “ethnic” part.

In the late 1800s, to the early 1900s, many immigrants came to America in search of the American Dream. What they got instead were ghettos and slums, and work that paid squat. These immigrants were forced out of nicer areas and herded into small, crowded spaces with poor living conditions. They were told to stick to their own kind, and they followed. This led to the creation of places like “Little Italy,” and the historically known Jewish Lower East Side. These are revered as cultural artifacts and wonders now, but back then they were places of squalor and humiliation.

Clearly, America was confused about who belonged. It still is. Just read the daily news, and there is a new group being targeted for simply existing almost everyday; Jews, Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community, Black people, Mexicans, Transgender people, anyone from the Middle East, the list goes on. This begs the question, who really is an American? And honestly, I’m not too sure.

America was founded on a mixing of identity and culture, but quickly moved to shutting out anyone who had too much. We speak of America as a “melting pot,” but we have to question that because of the current values and actions being toted in America today. A melting pot can be defined as a blending of cultures, identities, values and more. On the surface, America is a physical melting pot, consisting of thousands of different people from different backgrounds. America started as a land of immigrants. The “true” Americans were the Natives. This definition has changed to mean one thing: white, native English speaking, and probably Christian. If America was founded on immigration and “melting pots,” it doesn’t make sense that a true American could only be defined as one thing. America is not a melting pot. It never really was. Although there are many cultures present, they are not blended in any way. And they never will be. Simply because anyone with an accent is seen as not belonging, and immigration is seen as something alien and wrong. America is toted as melting pot to boost our own ego and demonstrate how great we are; we are the land of the free! We promote liberty and justice for all! The singing of the national anthem at American sports games drowns out the cries of Black Lives Matter and Love is Love. There is not really a point to having a national anthem if we struggle to define what the nation of America really is.

Oh America, one of the most powerful nations in the world is weak at the hands of those who built this country: immigrants. Immigration is being limited and cut off and changed to mean something terrible and violent. It also creates an attitude of superiority in the hearts of those who believe they are “true” Americans. We are being told to question who has a right to live in this country and threatening anyone who does not fit the new American mold. America’s national identity is being warped to define those who are in power only, not the majority of who makes up this country and works tirelessly everyday, supporting the economy. We need to change the conversation to view immigrants as the founding fathers of this country––they are, and should be seen as such.

By Sam Gibbs