OPEN HEARTS
CATCHING A NEW VISION OF
MU L TI
CU L TURALIS M
LIFE PACIFIC
U N I V E R S I T Y
Three competing views of multiethnicity in the U.S. vie for our
attention, and all of them fall short of the goal. But there is
another way.
I
n the U.S., I think we have three
different visions of multiethnicity.
The ideal many people embrace—
particularly in majority culture—is of the
“great American melting pot,” where
we downplay our ethnic identity. We’re
all American. If we just downplay our
ethnic identity, and express our common
identity instead, then we could be
united.
Sometimes, this view seeps into our
churches. If we stop bringing up our
differences, and emphasize our unity in
Jesus, then we’ll be fine. Let’s all just get
along. But we’re not just getting along.
Then, there’s the “separate but equal”
vision of multiethnicity. That’s where we
emphasize diversity, downplay unity,
and say: Just give us the same access,
Rev. Dr. James Choung
rights and privileges, but let us do our
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