Describe history of multiculturalism and its evolution in the United Essay

Describe history of multiculturalism and its evolution in the United States - Essay Example This text puts into perspective the history of multiculturalism and its evolution in the United States from the time of its inception. The United States is often referred to as melting point due to its cultural diversity. Multiculturalism began in the US in the late 19th century and was based on the pragmatism movement. At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a paradigm shift and multiculturalism was characterized by cultural pluralism and political symbolism (Bayor, 2011). The various dimensions of multiculturalism in the US emerged as a result of imperialistic tendencies by the European powers especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, the immigration tendencies by Eastern and Southern Europeans to the US marked the beginning of a diverse society (Frazier & Margai, 2010). Mass migration was experienced throughout the 20th century with the US being a home to various groups from diverse cultural backgrounds. Indians, Africans, Europeans and other racial groups gained root in the US with each outfit being identified by unique cultural features. The assumption at the advent of the multicultural era in the US was that every racial and ethnic group automatically got integrated into the American society. The assimilation process was established as a consequence of ensuring national unity. Essentially, the diverse cultural society of America ensured that various sectors of the society had to be institutionalized to deal with tendencies of domination and supremacy battles (Bayor, 2011). The institutionalization process was meant to ensure the free interaction of various cultures without barriers that would otherwise have threatened peaceful coexistence. Multiculturalism is a myth that that inspires America’s past and is an important symbol of national unity. Multiculturalism was institutionalized in a number of dimensions ranging from politics to education. The political angle of multiculturalism advocated equal