This week's reading from Anderson and Lee argues how Ethnic studies have come under attack from all sides to show how useless it is in today's society. The use of multiculturalism has been used increasing to highlight the individuality of ethnic groups but not addressing the key points in the racism and exclusion of these groups and the continued notion of how great white culture is to be able to incorporate all these other ethnic groups into their society.
Multiculturalism can be seen today in the way ethnic groups are taught in school. Throughout the years there is little mention of ethnic groups but if so call ethnic months, i.e. African American History month, Asian American month, Native Americans month, etc, these groups gets a short spotlight. However, it is never to address the racism and oppression that these groups face but to highlight the way these cultures are bringing to the melting pot of American society, their contribution to American society and how they addition is broadcasting how great American society is because it is inclusive to all these races.
With the ignorance of "multiculturalism" and its influence into American society, how can ethnic studies combat this to make teaching Ethnic studies in primary or secondary school more informative and not just be a "celebration" of ethnic cultures?
Work Cited:
Anderson, W. W., & Lee, R. G. (2005). Displacements and diasporas: Asians in the Americas. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
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