Quote:
Originally Posted by ocman
Old enough to remember when enclavism or “mosaic” urban cities, especially when talking about LA, was looked down upon and the melting pot model was held up as being the only model for racial harmony. Now, it’s constantly challenged as being an outdated, very white narrative that didn’t account for input from ethnic minorities who celebrate rather than see problems with ethnic neighborhoods.
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I can’t speak for every sector of society but as someone who has worked in healthcare for 28 years, that becomes problematic in healthcare delivery, for both the patient and hospitals. There are some immigrant families who might rarely venture outside their comfort zones or “enclaves” depending upon how tight the enclave community is. When that happens it can lead to economic and educational disparities.
In Western European countries, some Mideast and African immigrant enclaves have become economically isolated in such a way that many of the young men feel at odds with their new home nations.
We can and should embrace immigrant cultures and even regional historical influences without fragmenting our neighborhoods. Now that’s not to say that we need to breakup Chinatowns, the Mexican, Central and South American neighborhoods etc. But “enclaves” are by definition distinct and separate. Separation can and lead to many other problems that include tensions between ethnic and religious groups and as I mentioned above economic disparities.
Neighborhoods are richer when they’re diverse. If that’s a ‘melting pot’ then great.
There’s a reason our motto in the U.S. is “e plu·ri·bus u·num” (out of many) one). And as mottos go, it’s not bad.