Cultural Diversity in America
Journal article, Liberating History: The Context of the
Challenge of Psychologists of Color to American Psychology, “examines the history of race and
ethnicity in the United
States, and how it played out in the field
of psychology” (Pickren, 2009). His
research pinpoints events throughout American history with emphasis on the post-World
War II era. In his opinion, reviewing
and understanding the transgressions of the oppressed in America will
enable American psychologists to relate to indigenous individuals surfacing
internationally. As the world
globalizes, it is imperative that Americans comprehend and continue to connect
to varying and developing cultures.
Taken into account are the periods
of slavery to reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement, Black Nationalist
movement, Black consciousness, the Feminist movement, and the arrival of
increasing numbers of immigrants from Asia, Central, and South
America. To begin with,
during the period of colonialism, the “goal of imperial rule was to
diminish and even destroy the world view and ways of life of the colonized people”
(Pickren, 2009). Non-Europeans were
considered savage and archaic. In
northern states, various national groups were in conflict: i.e. Slavs opposed
to Irish, English opposed to French.
However, southerners were divided among ethnicities and racial divergence;
i.e. Whites or Caucasian Americans versus Africans and Black Americans. Once slavery was eradicated, living
conditions for Blacks worsened and Jim Crow was established to perpetuate and
justify segregation. Various scientists,
religious, and political leaders supported these concepts and beliefs. However, “after World War II a new
environment developed and new voices emerged that were clearly defiant of the
old psychological colonialism and helped create a positive emphasis on identity
grounded in the lived experiences of racial and ethnic minority psychologists”
(Pickren, 2009). The Civil Rights
movement paralleled the international struggle to abolish colonialism and
imperialism. In addition, as American
society began to integrate, “prominent movements against the Vietnam War, a
burgeoning women’s movement as part of the second wave of feminism, and an
emergent student and youth movement” (Pickren, 2009) were simultaneously
occurring. From the 1960s to present
day, immigrants have continued to assimilate into American society particularly
from Asia, Central, and South America. With this influx, additional socio-economic
issues have arisen. As a result, America’s
multicultural society has caused psychologists and practitioners to develop a new
psychology “that is more than, though inclusive of, Eurocentric psychology. A
psychology developed from the intellectual and social resources of multiple
cultures will enrich theory, methods, and practices beyond what is available in
the Eurocentric or America-centric traditions alone” (Pickren, 2009). A culturally diverse basis will enable psychologists
to more effectively relate, connect, and administer treatment to an international
community within America
and abroad.
This
article addresses and supports current diversity issues. In effort to progress, one has to consider
the causes which influenced the present circumstances. Cultural issues throughout American history
have shaped the opinions, beliefs, prejudices, and discriminations of various
ethnicities across the nation.
“Throughout history, people of many cultures have demonstrated an
ethnocentric view of the world” (Parrillo, 2009, p. 16). This concept has manifested within American
society as well. In addition, even
though integration was implemented over forty years ago, certain groups and
individuals continue to socially segregate.
Therefore, it is vital that the masses intermingle and continue to
learn, share, and accept one another. In
effort to effectively address issues affecting educational, criminal, social,
and economic systems, it is critical for professionals, politicians, law
enforcement, educators, community activists, and common citizens to incorporate
diversity consciousness into their lives.
Pickren’s article focuses on how emerging social disparities may be
resolved on a global level, by understanding and applying cultural and
cross-cultural psychology. This will
“reveal similarities and commonalities of struggle and identity formation among
psychologists from Third World countries and racial and ethnic minority
psychologists in the United
States” (Pickren, 2009). Conflict and diversity barriers are
inevitable components of any society.
However, disputes, discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes,
ethnocentrism, and limited perceptions must be appropriately addressed in order
to overcome them (Bucher, 2010). In
effort to assist those afflicted with these issues, practitioners must consider
all cultures in relation to one another, their histories, traditions, and
customs. In doing so, oppressed
individuals may begin to triumph over personal and social barriers and
establish effective communication with their oppressor or dominant culture as
they assimilate and co-exist.
References:
Bucher, R. (2010). Diversity consciousness: Opening
our minds to people, cultures, and
opportunities (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle
River: Pearson Prentice
Hall.
Parillo, V. (2009). Strangers to these shores: Race
and ethnic relations in the United
States (9th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Pickren,
W.E. (2009). Liberating History: The Context
of the Challenge of Psychologists
of Color to American Psychology.
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 15 (4), 425-433.
Retrieved February 7, 2011, from
