Acculturation means, upon an influx of new inhabitants from a foreign society, the acceptance of or adaptation to, the new, or existing, majority (Kittler, Sucher, Nahikian-Nelms, 2012, p. 6). On the North American continent, the Native Americans had an established way of life comprised …show more content…
In Mexico, the acculturation process actually evolved into a bicultural existence, where more than 80% of Mexicans are a mixture of both Indian and Spanish backgrounds, called mestizos (Kittler, Sucher, Nahikian-Nelms, 2012, pp. 6, 221).
Unfortunately, for Native Americans in the U.S., there was forced migration, which resulted in a choice of forced acceptance of acculturation, sometimes to the point of assimilation with other minority groups (Kittler, Sucher, Nahikian-Nelms, 2012, pp. 104-105). Those that were resistant to change were forced to move to reservations, in poverty, where they bound to stick to their own people and traditions (Kittler, Sucher, Nahikian-Nelms, 2012, p. 105).
Additional immigration to the Americas has and will persist, and the continual introduction and acceptance of new cultures is resulting in what we can refer to as Cultural plurality (Kittler, Sucher, Nahikian-Nelms, 2012, p. 19). The people of America can be viewed as a tossed salad, in that each culture represents a distinctive flavor and color, that without those differences brought to the table, the dish would not be quite as …show more content…
On one hand, acceptance of differences is ingrained in our culture, inspired by a willingness and desire to learn and share. On the opposite side is the belief that migration of those without an established identity, are not bringing anything to the table but an empty plate. The general perspective is that the needy, sick, and criminal are coming to take from American and its citizens. Above all of that controversy, the biggest fear we now face, internationally, is terrorism.
Food is the staff of life, they say, and that may be true; a lot of light has been shed for me, personally, with regard to nutrition and the struggle of food insecurity. Through my volunteer sessions I’ve learned that those that are in need of nourishment are not just inhabitants of, far away, third world countries, but live in poverty right in our own local communities.
I also see positive world evolution, witnessed through instantaneous sharing of information and feelings, motivated by our ability to travel, and promoted by our access to social media, that our huge world is right in our reach. If we could just see and focus on the similarities between us – starting with food, maybe even reaching out to find common ground in religion, we could start to find acceptance in diversity, embrace this human race, and celebrate the