If you really want to ask this question, why don't we start with the many Native American cultures in this part of the world from before 13,000 years ago until the very recent arrival of groups from the Old World?

Dear Stanley,

I think there is a double discourse when it comes to US cultural heritage. On the one hand, the notion of the 'melting pot' has been historically disseminated by the state and embraced by society at large. This 'melting pot' ethos has been absolutely central to the construction of an idea of the US as a country of immigrants and of peoples of diverse backgrounds. What is important to foreground is that this project has been preponderantly founded upon a goal of assimilation, rather than integration (multiculturalism). Furthermore, the paradox of the discourse of 'melting pot' has been the historical exclusion of certain groups, for example African Americans and Native Americans.

On the other hand, there has also existed a concomitant, implicit yet powerful and pragmatic logic that contradicts the ideas of this heterogenous 'melting pot'. This is the White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP) 'cultural heritage group' which has ruled the nation ever since its foundation. Needless to say, even within this putative category there were and there still are plenty of internal contradictions and distinctions (e.g., bourgeois /working class).

Kind regards,

Your question has an underlying assumption there is ONE concept or definition of USA’s cultural heritage. Looking at your further question, you ask: “Isn’t the USA as much a product of black culture as European..?” The lack of capitalizing ‘Black’ in the same context of ‘European‘ further marginalizes the former, not having both heritages recognized at the same level.

USA is vast, including over 21 unique Alaska Native groups. Though there were/are efforts for assimilation and acculturation, even many of us may be mixed heritages, we examine and re-examine our self-identity throughout our lifetimes.

Alejandra, that is certainly one/or several of the elements I was considering. And looking for and at the tensions within incompatible concepts. In fact, the original inhabitants had a part to play in modern USA, as much as in many ways they have been expunged. They affected the first colonists political thinking, the notion of the USA as a place with territorial boundaries, and on those boundaries being kept or extended within the continent by force. The use of force is a USA myth, which it often employs when dealing with others-usually within a paradox of self-identified enemies and of course within the paradigm of gun ownership.

While multiculturalism is fundamental to the development of USA society, expressed through territoriality, ie the ownership of the land, the original inhabitants for the first 250 years through cooperation and extermination, but also black slaves and free blacks (still lower case-sorry as it not a defined grouping but, Sean, you missed my point here-the immensity of black effects on USA cultural development and how and why, it seems to me, that is not fully recognised). This is in contrast to the attempts of ruling bodies in the USA to present a mono-culture, one view, one political view at least, and one approach to the rest of the world.

The USA has clearly several developed and impressive cultural strands not that of white European, which, it seems to me are not fully explored. Nor are they sufficiently reflected to others.

Native American cultures have not been "expunged" from the US culture. That is a racist myth.

I don't know where this notion of a "mono-culture" presented by "ruling bodies" comes from. The American reality is a multi-cultural diversity that most citizens applaud & enjoy. I believe most Americans seek a more inclusive country (recognizing the shortcomings we seek to address in current rational political debates) that does not give the limelight only to those of Anglo-Saxon heritage. Cultural attitudes change as reflections of a broad array of historical, economic, political, demographic, & generational differences, it does not appear to be reducible to a conspiracy of the formerly privileged (white men). These alleged characteristics of "American Culture" seem to be a post-modern, opinion-based description that are devoid of any rigorous anthropological or political analyses based on verifiable empirical data.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/25/enduring-whiteness-of-american-journalism

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/race-society/native-americans-media-stereotype-redskins

http://time.com/4661866/black-history-month-white-lies/

Isn't the point, Rusty, that these are perceptions that may not express realities, but equally may do. One individual from what is termed a minority group, like one swallow, does not make a summer. When that one individual is followed by an apparently stereotypical member of an imagined ruling group, who does appear to be a member of an elite, then confirmation-wrong or not-may occur.

I have looked assiduously for confirmation of you views, which does not mean they are not true, but come up with nothing. Possibly, I am merely searching in the wrong places. Or perhaps your views are not based so clearly and deeply as you believe. Although you do not know why other views are there, they actually are there and, as my question implies, need to be addressed not denied or ignored.

thanks Dibakar

Hello Stanley and everyone in this question:

First of all, in my personal and academic opinion I think there isn't such thing as a "false" cultural heritage, because culture and it's values can't be forever static, they keep changeing as other influences appear: even the most reduced and jealous tribe is willing to change some of it's own culture when an outsider shows them other things, kind of the chef Jock Zonfrillo's show Nomad Chef. Therefore you may have seen a part -even the tinies one- of the multicultural structure of the U.S.A.

Second, the Axiological view shows that the values, even the cultural type ones, have other "natural aspects" like the dynimics said before, but now I'm talking about hierarchy. As Foucault described the fact of standardization in the society, the same happens with cultural heritage: when the group defines what is it's ideal of culture, anything that comes, if is too different or has no points in common, there are two ways: it can be absorbed and balanced with the first group or it can be rejected and marginalized. In your case, I think what happened was the first route.

Third, continuing with the last idea, you just saw an edge of the diamond, because there is no unique culture, but a complex structure that involves many other types of cultures.

At last, I recommend you a pair of readings: 1) Hershkovits, Man and historia works: the science of cultural Anthropology. 2) Todorov, The abbuses of memory.

Anyone can judge from it's own trench, but when one enters and sees the reality of the other, trys to look through history and society of that place and people there is a scale of shades. The least anyone one can do is to try to set a balance between them; the good and the bad repercus in both directions. I only can encourage you to keep looking and shareing this shades so the people understand their multicultural essence so their judgements can be more focused.

Greetings to all.

On the one hand Francisco you are quite correct in your analysis, on the other hand I think strangely incorrect. A country's actions surely depend on specific focuses not the shaded areas you itemise, and whether or not that or those perceptions truthfully reflect an entire society is for sociologists and anthropologists. A country's political actions or activity comes from a number of areas, but usually from that of consensus over one or two points of mutual sympathy and identification.

The ruling elite in the USA and UK do not reflect all views, but can take on other views when required or if their actions seem prejudiced towards or against those views.

Stanley Wilkin

Hello. I agree with Rusty Greaves. The United States is a great country with a great culture inclusive of all its manifestations. And a lot of respect for the environment. The rest, are criteria based on political foundations, alien to this debate, so I think. I work with people of the field, Latinas, and we celebrate the Latino festival, with all its culture, and also that of the blues in New Orleans, Strawberry festival, festival of the Greeks, and many more, so, great is multiculturalism, great manifestations.Thanks

Yes. I think the answers indicate some misunderstanding of the question.But still.............................................................................

Brava Maria, tiene razón!

I agree with Francisco... there is no unique culture, but a complex structure that involves many other types of cultures. Now, I answer in Spanish, las manifestaciones culturales de un determinado grupo humano, no la crean los politicos, es el devenir historico de ese grupo humano, en un periodo de tiempo, quien va condicionando expresiones tangibles e intangibles, las cuales lo identificaran, entre otros. En Estados Unidos, existe, y se respeta, se festeja con orgullo, por parte de sus grupos, la multiculturalidad. I do not agree with what was expressed by Alejandra Gaitan Barrera, because in my opinion, it is not correct, but this is a free forum, and each researcher says according to their experiences, or beliefs, or experiences, that is also the result of the cultural formation that we have. Thank you very much everyone for the debate. That's how big the United States is, so great is its multiculturalism, and we respect it.