Racial Integration in America

Fitting in is one of the most prevalent social issues in America. Integrating multiple cultures into one is a difficult task and always causes problems, because people fear what they do not know or what is different from them. This shows in Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks" in which an American boy named Robert is embarrassed to be around Tan's Chinese culture, which in turn embarrasses her. This boundary between cultures stops advancement in some societies because people have to get along and work together in order to create a better environment. The pieces that were discussed in class this week open the eyes of their audiences to certain aspects of this issue, such as why identity is important and how difficult it can be for some to assimilate. The key point to remember is that individuality runs America and that it is perfectly fine to be different. If a person cannot accept you for who you are, then they are not worth it anyway.