Week 7- Assimilation

Assimilation, by definition is he process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group. The Native Americans were as different as one could imagine when comparing two things. Like comparing night and day. The white man and Indians contrasted in almost all ways, except for the fact that they need food and water. As this country became almost completely dominated by Caucasians, it ended the process that began when the first settler landed in mainland America. It had almost completely wiped out all things needed for Native American life. Now, this started a new process. Assimilation. So what happens when you mix to things together that clearly should not be together? One dominates the other. In this case, the Indians adopted all things American. From big changes such as the name of a person and what someone eats to things of slightly less magnitude such as clothes. But these things all have affects on the 'conquered' group. They can being to lose their culture. Which is why I think it takes a lot of determination and commitment to do what that boy Luther did., which was to keep his beliefs. He knew that he had to ADOPT the ways of the white people, but this was not permanent. And he was able to go back to the reservation very similar to how he left it. A true Native American. So what I am trying to say with this is that assimilation s not permanent. Although people can be completely changed based on their surroundings and the people around them, they will (most of the time) have their heritage, in some form with them. Be it being comfortable in cultural clothing despite not wearing it for decades, old habits, or food. Assimilation is at most, temporary in its affects