Separation Or Assimilation? :: essays research papers

breakup or Assimilation?     Our country, The United States of America, was essentially founded onthe principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through solidarityof human kind. In Bernard R. Boxills article, "Separation or Assimilation," hefundamentally poses the Hamletesque question to assimilate or not to assimilate.Subsequent to the dilemma of some black cultural nationalists, whom not only designate for assimilation of the black American populace, but also believe thatthis assimilation into white culture is inevitable, against cultural pluralism.Cultural pluralism, which was initialized by W. E.B. Dubois in the late nineteenthcentury, is founded upon the peculiarities of races, living harmoniously in onenation-state, and lacking superiority or inferiority. Consequently to posingthis question one dictates that there exist certain boundaries among culturesin our American society. Where do these boundaries come from and are theyindeed ne cessary? Is integration of these cultures indeed inevitable?     The goal of cultural pluralism as stated by Boxill are to establishpride in ones own race, to maintain the authenticity of ones own culture, andfinally to benefit the world populace. Through pride, the disdain ofinferiorities along with self-importance respect, one adopts an attitude of self-segregation. Boxill argues for pride as a means of preserving ones race,overemphasizing differences between individuals because of the color of theirskin or cultural differences, is a great defense to assimilation.      ground Duboiss concept of cultural authenticity is to delve intothe mysteries of self-actualization, that is to realize ones own potential. Heasks himself, as an African American, whether his true identity lies in thejungles of Africa or in this commonwealth of America. He is of the opinion that theseare his only two options. He concludes that his true identity goes beyond his American birth, citizenship, political ideals, language, laws, and religiondeep into the heart of Africa where a timeless culture was born and should bepreserved for its beauty and used to benefit the world populace. "...the Negropeople, as a race, have a contribution to make..."(Dubois,p244) The "Negropeople" as a race, have certainly had a peculiar world condition throughout timeand have had the ability to make for privileged insights into the human condition.     The whole of human consists of many parts. From the culturalpluralist perspective, this whole can be benefitted most by the contribution ofgifts from each race of humanity. barely does not true diversity exist inindividual persons rather than in large groups of unique individuals. It wouldseem obvious that the greatest degree of solidarity of humanity can be achieved