Earlier this month, I shared several photos from my trip to New York City. In that post, I mentioned how multicultural the city was, because people from all around the world converged on the Big Apple to pursue the “American Dream.” The comments on that post quickly turned to a discussion on what “the real America” is and how the “extreme segregation” in these large metropolitan areas is not representative of the rest of the country.
And that very well may be true, but it also opens up a tangential conversation on the “true” nature of multiculturalism. What does it mean to live in a multicultural society?
Canada: Emphasizing the Cultural Mosaic
As a child, I was taught that Canada was (and still is) a cultural mosaic. With the noted exception of the aboriginal communities, Canada is very much a country of immigrants. The first major wave may have come from different parts of Europe, but that has since expanded to include people from Asia, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and more. Even among the Chinese community in Vancouver, we see several major sub-cultures. The people who came from Taishan (Toi San) have a different sense of sensibility than those who come from Hong Kong, Taipei or Beijing. The food is quite different too.
And in Canada, we are taught not only to respect this diversity, but to celebrate it. Our country has become a patchwork of all these different cultures. Indeed, going through elementary school, we took this idea of a “mosaic” quite literally. We had class projects where we’d put together a quilt and in each square, we’d highlight the cultural background of one of the students. We had a patch for Peruvian culture, another for French culture, and another for Persian culture. The point was that we weren’t being segregated, per se, but rather that we were greater and more colorful together than the sum of our parts.
Yes, there may be some traditions that are distinctly Canadian, but the immigrant communities have added much to the definition of what it means to be Canadian. We are united in our diversity.
USA: The Melting Pot Stereotype
Bubble on, ol’ melting pot.
Yes, the stereotype of the United States is that of a melting pot. You are generally expected to assimilate into the American way of life. You are expected to speak English. You are expected to be an American first and your ethnic background second. The segregation between cultural groups may be more apparent in large cities like New York and Los Angeles, but smaller cities and towns will see more of a blending of cultures. The Japanese restaurant might also serve Vietnamese pho, Korean BBQ and Chinese dim sum. And it’ll be located next door to the Walmart.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because a more homogeneous culture will more likely agree on cultural norms. That being said, it can also lead to vicious attacks on those who don’t fully assimilate. You don’t have to look much further than the 24 hour TV news cycle for evidence of that. Not all Americans are like that and I don’t want to paint them all with the same wide brush, but there is a large and loud contingent who do. And I’m sure there are Canadians who feel that way too.
Another Shade of Beige
The way I see it, there are two competing trends. On the one hand, you have the movement toward fusion. Food is a great example of this with different cultures borrowing ingredients and techniques from one another. We’re seeing more and more interracial couples too. On the other hand, you also have a movement toward maintaining traditions. People seek out “authentic” ethnic food and even if they are born in Canada or the United States, they seek to celebrate their roots and original cultural heritage.
Here in Vancouver, it seems that we get both. A prime example of this is historic Chinatown. It used to be very Chinese, but now there is a stretch of so-called “hipster” bars and restaurants that could not have survived had they opened up 10 or 20 years ago. The North Burnaby area on Hastings Street used to be quite Italian (and it still is), but you’ll find no shortage of Vietnamese restaurants and sushi restaurants there now. Each of these businesses largely strives to be “authentic,” but the neighborhood as a whole is getting more blended. But that certainly isn’t the case everywhere.
What has been your experience with multiculturalism? Does your town celebrate its diversity or is the culture mostly homogeneous?
Trackbacks/Pingbacks