Kenneth B. Hilliard
At first glance, it is hard to conceive how many contributions can be attributed to these three minority groups. If the entire “Hispanic” population of America is added, then the contributions by these same three minority groups increase more.
Not only have these groups contributed to America’s art culture through visual arts, literary arts, and performing arts, but they have also made numerous contributions to creative arts such as drama, theatre, dance and acting.
The entertainment world would be quite different if minorities were still banned from participating, or still given only subordinate or non-essential roles, that often portrayed them as silly and uneducated. Minorities participate in the majority of the major sports in America, and are also important elements in America’s, as well as their own native land(s) Olympic Team(s).
Politically, mainly through the effects of the Civil Rights Movement, many great leaders have emerged. Minorities now occupy many elected political offices, in addition to appointments to major political and court positions. All of these things have occurred, despite numerous attempts by mainstream America, to keep each of these minority groups down.
It is important to mention, that, even though gains have been made by minority group members, the gains have been minute in comparison to accomplishments and gains made by other ethnic groups. Throughout America’s two-hundred and seventeen year history, each ethnic group has assumed its place, at the bottom of America’s “melting pot.” The tragedy with the three groups discussed in this unit, has been that, it has taken them a longer time to “rise up” from the bottom, and in terms of Afro-Americans particularly because of their skin color, they have only been allowed, to reach a certain height within the melting pot, and then, are pushed back down by either Anglo American’s restrictions placed on them, or by gains made by other groups such as Hispanics, which seem to push them past the place(s) occupied by AfroAmericans.
So clearly, mainstream culture is better because of the contributions made by The Pueblo People, Sandra Cisneros, and Henry 0. Tanner. Their status within our society, has helped to make life easier for members of their own racial group(s) here in America.
Still, all in all, these three cultures, with both their similarities and differences, are connected to America’s culture, and should have a place of prominence within our society. Given the struggles that these groups have already encountered, and the battles previously fought, (both won and lost), these minorities groups will always be apart of our society add -will continue to contribute to Anglo culture, whether they are welcome or not.