The concept of the “melting pot” has always been an unrealistic idea desired by the pioneers of America. The main point was to create a whole new American culture that would define the continent’s population by the specific characteristics, traditions, and customs. However, this perception of the American culture was never destined to become a reality because of the existed cultural pluralism. The population of America was formed predominantly from the arrived Europeans and citizens of other countries and lands. From the start, there was no foundation for assimilation because the diversity of unique cultures from representatives of numerous nations was too high to erase their features in order to create the new one.
Therefore, instead of ignoring the peculiarities of many ethnicities and trying to form a purely American culture, it is better to use the more contemporary concept of multiculturalism. This term accurately describes the historical process that has been going on since discovering the continent. Multiculturalism allows people to preserve their ethnic identities and coexist in the same territory instead of removing the specific singularities and making everyone look alike (Takaki, 2008). Such an idea can be compared to the metaphors of mosaic or a salad bowl used to describe the mix of the various elements that all together create outstanding results while preserving the uniqueness of each part.
Thus, it is necessary to mention the failure of the “melting pot” concept in the United States history to recognize the contribution of the different cultures in the building of America the way it is now. There would be no diverse and bright culture without participation and acknowledgment of the different heritages and customs. Everything starting from food and music to art and fashion was built as the result of multiculturalism. Therefore, mentioning it in history allows people to remember, value, and recognize the impact of different cultures and appreciate the diversity for which the US is so well-known.
Reference
Takaki, R. (2008). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America (1st ed). eBookIt. com.