Xenophobia, Racism, and Immigration – Dissimilar Roots of an Identical Problem

In this paper, the matters of bias are outlined and analyzed in the works of a number of writers who shed light on the problem of intolerance toward minorities in ‘the land of the free’. The general proposition of the authors depicted in this paper, mainly that minorities (Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Asians) can only act American rather than become American, prolongs the politically traditional designation of them as inassimilable aliens. However, this work proposes that minorities who live in America not only question the criteria of belonging that continually keeps them on the margins of American society but also reach high stages of the American Dream. In other words, a person who realizes that ethnicity is a truly American feature can more thoroughly fathom American culture than someone who considers himself a true white American. This paper analyzes xenophobia, racism, and immigration as the closely intertwined issues that, despite having dissimilar origins, share common grounds of prejudice embedded in them.

Resistance to a non-standard approach towards race and ethnicity can be seen on both sides of the color line. For instance, an African American or a Jew whose hopes for America to become his home are often opposed by the white supremacy members and the members of the Black or Jewish communities alike (Fredrickson 23). The popular notion prevails that minorities should live and develop within their own micro-world, surrounded by their original cultural values and traditions. Such ideas, as stated by George Fredrickson, have deep roots in the history of American immigration and naturalization (34). Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, and Asians who came to the US, traditionally, had a difficult time adjusting to the new world around them. As a rule of the thumb, they were better off staying within their closed communities than attempting to assimilate. This conception remained unchallenged for years.  

The original view of difference between racial groups was very popular among the white majority that dominated cultural, economical, and political scene in the developed world at the beginning of the 20-th century. Although many people tend to believe that judging people by their appearance and color of skin can be considered normal if appropriate measures and explanations used, one understands the complete fallacy of such argument.

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