Defining American
The United States is often referred to as the “melting pot” of the world. It is a place where people of all backgrounds have come together to form a unique culture. We eat tacos, pizza, sushi, hamburgers, hummus, Belgian waffles and lo mein. We drink chai lattes and bubble tea. We use words like kismet, mecca and gesundheit. The names of our states and cities – Illinois, Wisconsin, Malibu, Milwaukee – are some of the last reminders of indigenous Americans. We come in all sizes, colors and shapes. A fifth generation Chinese-American is no less American than a fifth generation Irish-American, though they may look nothing alike. We are a country of immigrants that have united to form a single identity that is anything but homogeneous. What it means to be “American” today is not what it was 500 years ago, a century ago, or even a decade ago. American culture and identity do not remain stagnant, they are constantly evolving. This flexibility and diversity is what makes the United States a unique nation.
American Subcultures
American culture is not homogeneous, but a collection of individual subcultures. Defining these subcultures is difficult because within each subculture there are further divisions. Each subculture has its own set of characteristics that differentiate it from others. It may be a shared heritage and history, set of beliefs, type of speech or rituals and traditions.
We often see subcultures in America presented as a combination of features, usually represented by the hyphen. For example, African-Americans are a unique subculture in the United States. This subculture is both African and American, yet neither just African or just American. There are an innumerable amount of subcultures within the united states, created by the blending of various customs and practices that may have been brought from overseas or developed within the borders of the nation.
(Obviously this image of the American Melting Pot is missing some important ingredients)
American Muslims
Muslims can be found in almost all corners of the earth. They can vary greatly in appearance, language, garb and cultural practice. Islam is religion that has spread throughout the World, and takes many forms. While the core beliefs remain the same, cultural practices vary depending on location. Like American culture, the American Muslim Subculture is a melting pot in and of itself. Muslims have come from all parts of the world to live in America - from Syria to Senegal, India to Turkey, Bosnia to Nigeria. Some Muslims have reverted to Islam within the borders of this country. Now we find that we are united not by appearance, or heritage but by adherence to the same faith and basic moral code.
(from America.gov)
The purpose of this blog is to examine what makes us us, and to track our progress as we find our place in American society. 