The problem with Assimilation
The United States is made up of many different races that have immigrated here through out our short history. The "American" culture differs from person to person. Some how though the dominant belief is "white culture" when it comes to assimilation. To assimilate is defined as, "to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or the like;" (Dictionary.com, n.d.) Which can cause an identity crisis. While a Harvard study found that the large majority is against the traditional meaning of assimilation (Alba, 1997).
So what is it that is happening if it is not assimilation? Well according to Greenman and Xie, assimilation is still relevant but it is not the same assimilation that many of us think of. They explain that traditional assimilation focuses on differences from culture to culture. While more recent assimilation focuses on what different cultures have in common. Much like multiculturalism; honoring all cultures as well as honoring the current culture of the place that someone is in. Today's assimilation does not have to be a way to strip someone of their identity. Multiculturalism and Assimilation being bonded together can create a much more dynamic theory. This can allow for the complexity that is a human and celebrate the relationship between and the differences between. Studies have long shown that diversity and immigration breeds innovation (Winter, 1999).

Citations
Alba, Richard. "Rethinking Assimilation Theory for a New Era of Immigration." The International Migration Review 31.4, Special Issue: Immigrant Adaptation and Native-Born Responses in the Making of Americans (1997): 826-74. JSTOR. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
"Assimilate." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.
Greenman, Emily, and Yu Xie. "Is Assimilation Theory Dead? The Effect of Assimilation on Adolescent Well-being." Is Assimilation Theory Dead? The Effect of Assimilation on Adolescent Well-being. Elsevier, Mar. 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
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