Assimilation Archives - The Race Card Project

I fell for the assimilation trap

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022 Assimilation, Black, black man, Brian Roberts, career, citizen, discrimination, frustrating, Gaithersburg, Institutional racism, job, life, MD, Path, provide for my family, school, trap, what's wrong

Brian Roberts,
Gaithersburg, MD.

I am a middle-aged American black man. I thought that if I lived my life as a solid citizen, went to the right schools, secured a good career, raised a family, I would not only provide for my family, I would set an example that would make white people less frightened by black people. I thought my example of hard work and assimilation, and that of others who followed a similar path, would improve race relations. This has not been the case. In fact, my example is used to discredit other black people who have not had the same success. What I hear is, “if you made it, what’s wrong with other blacks? Why can’t they do it?” As if racial prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism did not exist. It’s very frustrating.

Asian searching for what assimilation took.

July 8, 2022 Asian, Assimilation, CA, Jessy Verkler, Solvang, white

Jessy Verkler,
Solvang, CA

Assimilation allowed me to wish I was white and hate that I wasn’t.

Not white, but my kids are?

September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 Assimilation, bullied, bully, CA, El Salvador, heritage, Indo-Dutch, kids, not white, Oakland, Rob Silva, white kid

Rob Silva
Oakland, CA

First generation with Indo-Dutch/ El Salvadoran heritage. Family has seemingly always been the non-white in the group, especially when listening to the my parents’ stories of assimilation. So strange then when my son was bullied at his new school in Berkeley for being the white kid.

Accept, embace my own; respect others

March 22, 2015March 22, 2015 Accept, Assimilation, embace, Mark Anderson, respect, Salt Lake City, UT

Mark Anderson,
Salt Lake City, UT.

Assimilation or washing away all of our differences is not desirable. The key
is to acknowledge diversity, choosing to be tolerant and respectful.

Black? White? Where are my Hispanics?

September 24, 2014 Assimilation, Black, culture, disconnected, East Lansing, Hispanic, Janice Mendoza, MI, middle school, southern california, white

Janice Mendoza,
East Lansing, MI.

I moved to Michigan from Southern California in middle school. I was very shocked to find out that there were not many Latinos in my new area. I felt very out of place. I am current student at Michigan State. I loved the idea of diversity when I got accepted into this school. However, I am now here with the opportunity to be around people of my culture through organizations and I still feel out of place. I feel very disconnected from my people. I wish that I could experience more of my culture in my everyday life. Culture is a very important aspect of ourselves as individuals. I am fighting to keep my culture alive in a land full of assimilation.

Assimilation; there is no such thing.

July 17, 2013 Abel, American, Assimilation, English, real, speak, TX, West Texas

Abel
TX

Speak English only they say. America is a melting pot; think American, be American.
If you assimilate you will fit in and be treated equally! But when you assimilate, all that you gain is the loss of your cultural roots and your ethnic identity. Because, there is always someone around the corner to remind you that you are nothing more than a hyphenated American; not a “real American”.
And lest you forget what you are, there is always a politician willing to segregate you into a particular voting faction. Hispanic voters. Black voters. Asian voters. Imagine that, the concept of segregation being used in what is usually proclaimed as one of the the most fundamental American rights.
Just like the never-ending West Texas wind, racism will always be around.

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