Kalantzis states that “The idea was that people would come from all over the world, as we've seen, but once they came into America, they'd leave their identity behind. And they would go into a big melting pot, and come out with new habits, new language, new ways of behaving. And then they would have the opportunity to share in the bounty of the land.” To me, this policy has been detrimental to the social growth of this country. People shouldn’t have to give up the identity that they have created for themselves in order to become a member of a society that holds certain people as second class. In fact, most adults (especially those of color) who immigrate here don’t have a support system to help them assimilate into this country. By not being able to assimilate, they become “other”/ separate and unable to enjoy the rights that “assimilated” Americans have. However it is not only adults who suffer from the process of assimilation. As someone who has experienced and seen others dealing with being new to America, assimilation can be an easier process for a child and with a higher cost. Because we “grow up” assimilating, we risk losing more of our birth/ native culture and heritage. There are those who see the “melting pot” they have become a part of and fight to regain the history they lost.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/do-we-really-want-immigrants-to-assimilate/