Analysis #7 Ethnicity Studies/Post-Colonial Theory

    This video clip differs from the thoughts of Gloria Anzaldua, who declares that she won’t be a part of America’s melting pot.  Instead she wants to be an American, but continue to hold on to every part of her past.  Although this video’s message is supposed to be good, Anzaldua would be unable to completely agree with its approach.  Whereas the melting pot blends away differences, Anzaldua believes that the understanding of different cultures in the pasts of individuals is a key part of overcoming ignorance.  Instead of simply blending cultures together, she insists people must be in touch with their heritage and they must also try to understand the heritage of others. 
    Her approach seems to be more of what has been referred to by some as a “salad bowl” approach more than a melting pot.  In her approach there are differences that can’t be blended away, but that remain working together amongst other differing cultures.  Here writing even includes some of this “salad bowl” concept.  Her writing employs different languages that can often be confusing, but serves to show that she wishes to incorporate different aspects of her culture into the same body of work.
    This video also seems to imply that cultures are effectively combined in America, something Anzaldua would have also disagreed with.  Although some individuals have mixed cultures, she recognizes that the dispersal of cultures is not even in America.  They are also not always even in rank.  If America truly was a melting pot, then racism and oppression wouldn’t exist, which it still very clearly does.

 Works Cited

Anzaldua, Gloria. Borderlands/La Fronters: The New Mestiza.” Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 2010. 2098-2109. Print.

SchoolHouseRocksKids. “The Great American Melting Pot” Feb 19, 2010. May 8, 2011.  Web.