Fredrickson's Various Models - Essay Example

Frederickson’s Various Models Introduction According to George M. Frederickson, a society that is dominated by white culture is comprised of four distinct categories: assimilation, separatism, hierarchy and pluralism. The extent to which these categories have fueled racial disharmony is widespread. Other than the usual “color line” that differentiates the dominant white society from lower-status Indians, blacks and Asians, important social distinction have been established among the hites of European ancestry. It is, therefore, difficult to make a clear distinction between ethnicity and race when reflecting on intergroup relations in American history. Ethnicity is usually “racialized” when distinctive characteristics between different ethnic groups are used as the basis for defining status hierarchy of groups, which are thought to differ in descent and ancestry. Cultural assimilation is one of the factors that have been witnessed to play a major role is counteracting ethnicity and racism. For example, in the 19th century, the Indians were considered as non-citizens, not because of their appearance and skin-color, but because of their adherence to “savage ways”. This barred them from being fully assimilated into the white culture and possessing equal rights. This paper provides a broad outline of how Frederickson’s models of intergroup relations have played a role in the American society, including some of the changes in how different ethnic groups have been defined by others or by themselves, by specifically considering Sherman Alexie’s assimilation story. Assimilation Story Sherman Alexie’s assimilation story revolves around an Indian woman named Mary Lynn. She is married to a white man, Jeremiah, and they are blessed with three children. Due to conflicting cultures, she finds herself at a cross-road since she cannot find her own identity (McClinton-Temple & Velie 44). Her husband is such a racist man who even extends his hatred of other ethnic groups onto his own sons. He only loves his daughter who looks more like him. In addition, he does not just associate with all the whites, but with a subset of people, most of them being educated and affluent whites. He, however, successfully manages to get rid of some social burdens in one way or the other. Lynn spent most of her free time listening to Indian songs. This means that she could not let her culture go off her. Jeremiah believes that his wife can be fully assimilated into the white culture, if only she changes her behaviors and attitudes (McClinton-Temple & Velie 44). Ethnic Hierarchy The ancient American society categorized ethnic groups into different levels and classes. There was the predominant group, the whites, who are perceived as superior to other ethnic groups. The whites claimed that other ethnic groups were unfit and unready to acquire equal rights and full citizenship (Frederickson 633). Frederick’s hierarchical model can be traced back to the colonial period when blacks were enslaved and Indians were conquered. From Alexie’s assimilation story, it is obvious that all the problems that existed between Jeremiah and Lynn were triggered by their cultural and religious differences. None of them was willing to abandon his or her culture and adopt other people’s culture. This is the reason why Lynn cheated on her husband with a fellow Indian man (McClinton-Temple & Velie 44). In the early 20th century, Americans of English ancestry, the dominant group, were not simply whites but Anglo-Saxon White Protestants. Mary Lynn found it difficult to accept and adopt Anglo-Saxon’s culture her husband belongs to; because she believes she does not qualify to join the dominant group. Jeremiah, on the other hand, believes that her wife can get fully assimilated into their culture if she changes her behaviors (McClinton-Temple & Velie 44). In the contemporary American society, the presence of socially deprived, physically unsafe and improvised barrios, ghettos and Indian reservations, indicate that ethnic hierarchy, in a racialized form, is still being practice, though illegaly (Frederickson 637). One-Way Assimilation The dominant group has always assumed that there is a single and superior American culture, of English origin, to which all the minority ethnic groups are expected to conform (Frederickson 637). Assimilation is focused to bring equality between ethnic groups; however, the assailants are expected to presume purity, superiority, and unchanging traits of the dominant culture. One-way assimilation refers to a situation where one group is forced to adopt another people’s culture (Frederickson 639). In the early 20th century, one-way assimilation was practiced when assimilationists adopted a policy that was designed to force all the Indians to conform to the American culture (Frederickson 637). Jeremiah’s and Lynn’s case clearly depict this model. Jeremiah, by virtue of being a white and an Anglo-Saxon, believes that he is superior to his wife and two sons that resembled their mother. He, therefore, expects them to adopt Euro-American cultural norms, which represent the dominant culture. Lynn also, on the other hand, chooses to abandon her culture and adopt the Euro-American culture, since she perceives it as the dominant culture (McClinton-Temple & Velie 44). Cultural Separatism This model originates from the desires of racialized or distinctive groups to achieve the best from the American society through interactions with other ethnic groups (Frederickson 640). The main aim of cultural pluralism is to achieve a separate and self-governing community. This can either be achieved through dissolution of a nation into several ethnic nations, or ethnic confederation. In a more practical way, group separatism arises when a minority group realizes that it is undermined by a dominant group, yet it can learn and survive on its own (Frederickson 640). In Alexie’s assimilation story, Lynn feels undermined by her husband since she is of Indian origin. This is the reason why she asks her husband for a divorce, and she even cheats on him with another Indian man. It is apparent that Lynn prefers Indian men more than other men from other ethnic groups. Cultural Pluralism This model advocates for cultural diversity. Cultural pluralists argue that cultural diversity is a normal and healthy condition that does not entitle assailants to equal rights like the natives of a given culture (Frederickson 638). The concept of cultural pluralism was developed in the early 20th century. The whites believed that the American society functioned best with a single and integrated culture. However, they could favor cultural practices of the Indians on the reservations, and also called for the full assimilation of African Americans and other immigrants (Frederickson 639). Cultural pluralism is exhibited in Alexie’s assimilation story when Jeremiah chooses to marry Lynn; something that was unusual for the American society. In addition, Jeremiah rarely interrupts Lynn when she listens to Indian songs. This means that he supports cultural diversity even in his own house (McClinton-Temple & Velie 44). Conclusion By considering the four models of American relations, I believe that one-way assimilation model does not promise a just and cohesive society. This is because one side is forced to accept and adopt other people’s culture just because it is perceived as stable and superior. Therefore, it restricts the minority ethnic groups from reconstructing their own cultural identities. Even in the 21st century, we are still very far from achieving optimum degree of ethnic and racial tolerance, however, the realization to adopt models like cultural pluralism is an ideal requirement in the contemporary American society. With respect to Alexie’s assimilation story, all the conflicts between Jeremiah and Lynn were the result of ethnic hierarchy, one-way assimilation and cultural separatism. With cultural pluralism, the couples are expected to live in peace and harmony. Works Cited Fredrickson, G. M. Models of American ethnic relations: a historical perspective. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. Print McClinton-Temple, J., and Velie, A. R. Encyclopedia of American Indian literature. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2007. Print Read More