What Does It Take to ‘Assimilate’ in America?
By Laila Lalami
Laila Lalami the author of “What Does It Take to ‘Assimilate’ in America?” starts the article with personal experience about the idea of assimilation. Her entire article is centered on the word assimilation. Lalami goes on in her article to explain how people of different races, religions, and backgrounds are supposed to assimilate to American culture. Lalami describes America as a “salad bowl, rather than melting pot: Each ingredient keeps its flavor, even as it mixes with others” (Lalami). When America uses the expression “melting pot” it references that we are all the same and that we are assimilating to the American way of life. Lalami then goes on to explain how immigrants are forced to blend in and remove parts of there own identity to be “normal” in society. After, Lalami explains another view of immigrants and assilation. She explains how some people will come to America and assimilate into the community in order to hide the fact that they are undocumented citizens. She shows that there are many ways a person can use the word assimilation in reference to America.
