People around the world know America as the beacon of equality and justice. Though this may be true to some extent, America is very one track minded on how it views ethnicities and race. Although their is much diversity in America, people are only identified with one solid race, or the race that is most apparent. For example, a person may be composed of a complex racial pedigree by being Italian, German, and Swiss, but are only considered Italian, because it is the most apparent race to society. The problem with this is that society as a whole is completely neglecting to realize the background of those people that come from blended families; the most common being Afro-Latino persons. Afro-Latinos are often viewed by society as one race or another, but never a combination of the two. This is a struggle that is expressed in detail in Willie Perdomo's poem "Nigger-Reecan Blues."
America only realizes an individual as African American or a Latino, not acknowledging the fact that they contribute both cultures to society. By failing to identify those individuals as biracial individuals, the individuals will attempt to acculturate, eventually causing the extinction of blended races across America. Giving credit and simply acknowledging that they are more than one race would create a better sense of pride in diversity, thereby truly making America the melting pot that it is praised for being.
America only realizes an individual as African American or a Latino, not acknowledging the fact that they contribute both cultures to society. By failing to identify those individuals as biracial individuals, the individuals will attempt to acculturate, eventually causing the extinction of blended races across America. Giving credit and simply acknowledging that they are more than one race would create a better sense of pride in diversity, thereby truly making America the melting pot that it is praised for being.
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