Kevin's post on Fredrickson

One of arguments that I found interesting was the point Fredrickson made about ethnic separatism. He argues that "ethnic separatism, in conclusion, is a symptom of racial injustice and a call to action against it, but there is little reason to believe that it portends 'the disuniting of America' "(459). For a moment, I thought, what can be wrong with isolating different ethnic groups, especially when it does not call for political separation into a completely separate nation? But then I realized that call for separatism is the result of different ethnic groups unable to live in harmony with each other. It is the result of how different groups cannot accept and tolerate the cultural differences. When groups cannot accept differences, they cannot respect the other cultures, and therefore cultural integration becomes very difficult.

Among other conceptions that Fredrickson provides, I thought cultural pluralism worked the best. Ethnic separatism is a "symptom of racial injustice and a call to action against it"(459). One-way assimilation is ethnocentric and forces the other groups to throw away their culture and tradition and to follow the dominant culture. This again may not be as harsh as ethnic hierarchy, but still fails to accept the cultural and traditional differences. On the other hand, cultural pluralism "celebrate differences among groups rather than seek to obliterate them"(455). Different groups are not considered 'inferior' based on their identity. Under this conception, cultural diversity can be maintained and different groups can learn from various cultures and become more aware of the differences.