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CULTURE
Why Some White People Claim Multiculturalism is a Failure
An unfair tradeoff in a diverse nation
Despite living in a diverse nation, some White Americans believe that multiculturalism is a failure. This is their not-so-subtle way of expressing frustration at having to share the limelight with other groups. They feel the nation's culture should center on White people, while all others fade into the background. For instance, Superintendent Greg Poole published a letter in the Houston Chronicle, suggesting that a Black student, Darryl George, cut his long dreadlocks to end his suspension and attend classes. He claimed "being an American requires conformity," with the purported benefit of unity. But, for Black students pressured to abandon natural hairstyles that carry cultural significance, the policy presents an injustice. This case illustrates the dark side of assimilation, the social expectation that one must shed elements of their culture to gain acceptance. Also, it's hard to ignore the irony that no one is asking White people to abandon their cultural traditions to earn a seat at the table. Often, resistance to multiculturalism acts as a thin veil for racism.
America has always been a racially and ethnically diverse nation. This colonial project began with European colonists warring with and taking land from…
