Before president Trump, the United States of America was renowned for her welcoming reception of people who were harassed in their own countries. Americans had fought their way through numerous hardships toward maintaining the most original type of democracy, an image of hope for the oppressed. As such, the melting pot idea has been a great blow to that international image because diversity is a social concept that offers great domestic and international benefits . If you do not believe in this, just look at Canada, the America's neighbor.

Melting point is an illusion. The US and other countries could potentially benefit from Cultural Diversity as long as people understand that we all cant' look, believe or think the same. It's important to find points of convergence and unity in diversity. There is so much we can learn from each other.

I disagree with the prior two responses in that there are strong arguments to be made both for the existence and non-existence of a melting pot in the United States - and these arguments have indeed been made by prominent scholars.

More to your specific question regarding ethnic identity. I think the answer is tricky and more complicated than what it might appear. Ethnic identity is indeed associated with greater self-esteem, feelings of inclusion, and well-being. So in this sense, yes, I think that ethnic identity is very beneficial to the individual's sense of flourishing, and this sense of well-being likely results in greater social functioning.

But there is a dark side to ethnic identity too. Social-psychological and social-cognitive perspectives have long noted how highly identified group members tend to exhibit (a) ingroup favoritism), (b) outgroup hostility and discrimination, (c) intergroup competition for resoruces and status, (d) inaccurate homogeneous views of both ingroup and outgroups, (e) stereotypes, and (f) preferential treatment of ingroup but not outgroup members. Thus, I think the answer to your question depends on what you mean by great contributor to society, whether individually, at the group level, intergroup relations, etc.

Just my thoughts,

Cheers

Although I am living proof that the "The greater the ethnic identity, the higher the self-esteem, purpose in life and self-confidence," so, so many of my American black brothers and sisters -indeed our British counterparts are teaching (or showing) our adolescents that their ethnic identity is one of low self esteem, derived through victimhood; of struggle, so the only way out is to come out fighting -literally. And to be honest, the most hateful racism I have experienced is intra-racism which backfires because it only serves to raise my self esteem and self confidence because of whom I'm comparing myself to and aspiring to be...

My undergraduate dissertation is around multiculturalism and the extent to which the host nation's culture is undermined (if at all) by multiculturalism policy. Can anybody suggest any good reads?

It depends on how much "melting" is required. Dominant groups are often only expected to "melt" with other groups to the extent that they try "exotic" food or celebrate a holiday unrelated to their own culture, while minority groups are often expected to fully immerse themselves in dominant culture while their own cultural characteristics "melt away." It is difficult to measure benefits on a national level because there is such a wide variety of experiences within the nation.

I am Spanish American, descendant from the first Spanish colonists who came to the American Southwest back in 1598. Growing up in an ambiance of mainstream America and speaking English as my first language, while at the same time with pride and participation in my Spanish cultural heritage and speaking Spanish as my second language, has broadened my horizons and enriched my life. The result has been my eclectic incorporation of the best that any culture has to offer and, in my professional life, to produce innovations and advancements in science and technology.

I don't know that I am answering the important and timely question you pose as much as addressing it. The rhetoric of this country has long been about embracing a 'melting pot', but the actuality has generally been otherwise. Without reviewing the manner in which the generous Wampanoag hosts and, later others, were treated, our largely Caucasian Protestant forebears persecuted those of differing denominations, particularly Catholics. Later we focused on Irish and Italians, while race has always been, and still is the difference that evokes the greatest vitriol.

I am an anthropologist and committed to the value of differences, however manifest. Mr. Cobb reviews some of the strengths and pitfalls of cultural, racial, and ethnic differences, but I would argue that it is the privileged majority that has the greater power to provide solutions or problems. Unfortunately, lately members of that majority fear they are losing their dominant position and are lashing out in fear and ignorance.

Evolution, both biological and social, thrives on variety. Inbreeding, both biological and cultural, leads to problems occasioned by recessive genes and repressive concepts.

I will toss a thought or two into the ring. The first one, suggested by others here, is that identity is not coterminous with culture. Strong identities can and do coexist with a high degree of shared culture, and political cleavage can and does magnify or fabricate difference in support of a cause.

Both cultural difference and identity can be and are created anew, and thus neither is necessarily a cause of conflict so much as a tool of power or resistance. And therein lies another point, which is that identity serves majority and minority differently. Powerful majorities often think of themselves as "not ethnic," which of course is inaccurate, but does reflect a difference which may be overlooked in the literature advocating for the value of a strong identity. A majority with a strong identity is, as Raybeck points out, a repressive beast.

In US history we've learned that multiple ethnic groups in contact soon turn into ethnic groups in conflict. I've known people who are as comfortable outside the US as they are inside it, people who speak multiple languages. But multilingualism isn't sufficient to create a melting pot. What is this melting pot we wish to create? Utopia? We were headed in right direction, I think, until the last presidential election, which brought out the shadow (as Jung would say) of American culture. Early 20th century U.S., what happened when migrating Euro-groups came into contact in Chicago? Conflict. Violence. Racism, Antisemitism. But, a melting pot concept might have been an achievable on a small scale on college campuses, although even there, racism and anti-antisemitism showed its ugly head when the new federal administration added racial hatred to the pledge of alliance. The Netherlands comes as close to melting pot as I've seen, but there, too, conflict arose when a conservative government came into power. NL stopped welcoming ethnic groups, closed the border to ease resettlement. A Dutch women I knew was married to American man who was required to pass a cultural exam and speak Dutch a level comparable to U.S. foreign service workers before he was permitted to stay with his wife and work the in NL. A test of a cultural melting comes when a white man tries to marry a black man in Alabama.

@Mark. You are looking at the situation as groups. There, as you say, there can be conflict - at least there is a potential for it. But if you look at the situation as individuals, as I do, you see how diversity brings about synergy - the ability to solve seemingly impossible problems. We need to see one another as individuals, each with their own complex array of characteristics, including cultural background. Respect that there are differences and see how we can work together as a team.

@Antonio. I agree. On an individual level it can work. When I taught in a criminal justice program, I recruited undergrads from different cities and ethnic groups and races to work on field research with me. Great learning experience.