Question

What is the concept of the "Melting Pot ' in America? Does it actually exist in America? Why do some call it "The American Salad"?

Answer 1

It shall be noted that the phrase "Melting Pot" is a term to indicate a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" with a common culture.

The USA is traditionally called a melting pot because, with time, generations of immigrants have melted together: they have abandoned their cultures to become totally assimilated into American society. The USA was first referred to as "Melting Pot" in the 1908 play of the same name, describing the country fusion of nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities. In 1908, when the play opened in Washington, the United States was in the middle of absorbing the largest influx of immigrants in its history – Irish and Germans, followed by Italians and East Europeans, Catholics, and Jews – some 18 million new citizens between 1890 and 1920.

It does not exist in America in real sense. The immigrants of today come not from Europe but overwhelmingly from the still-developing world of Asia and Latin America. They are driving a demographic shift so rapid that within the lifetimes of today's teenagers, no one ethnic group – including whites of European descent – will comprise a majority of the nation's population. The demographic changes happening as a result of this continue to fracture the country into many separate, disconnected communities with no shared sense of commonality or purpose. Today there is more emphasis on preserving one's ethnic identity, of finding ways to highlight and defend one's cultural roots.

In today's context, America is rightly described as "The American Salad" rather than "Melting Pot". Today, America is a country where multicultural society can integrate different cultures while maintaining their separate identities, contrasting with a melting pot, which emphasizes the combination of the parts into a single whole. Today, different cultures do not form together into a single homogeneous culture; each culture keeps its own distinct qualities.