Deculturalization and the struggle for equality - Chapter 1 PDF

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Notes taken on a required reading: deculturalization and the struggle for equality chapter 1....

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Developing a view of a superior culture: o Deculturalization is a conscious attempt to replace one culture and language with another that is considered superior. o The Roman empire established a culture in Europe in which those outside the empire where considered barbaric or uncivilized. When the Roman empire fell, and all that was left was the Christian church, the church was viewed as civil and those outside of the church where viewed as uncivil. This gave European kings the excuse they needed to conquer other peoples and bring them to civility. o English protestants view themselves as superior to other European Catholics. This is another excuse used to fuel racism in America. o In an effort to control native cultures, England taught English language and culture in their schools.  This idea is also seen in southern American states in which African Americans where not given the right to an education. Educational methods of colonization: o Cultural genocide: The controlling power uses education to attempt to destroy the culture of the dominated group. In the United States, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexican Americans have been the major target of attempts at cultural genocide. o Deculturalization: Deculturalization is the educational process of destroying a people’s culture and replacing it with a new culture. Language is an important part of culture. In the case of America, schools have only taught English stamping out immigrant languages. o Assimilation: Educational programs designed to absorb and integrate cultures into the dominate culture. o Cultural pluralism: Educational practices designed to maintain the languages and cultures of each cultural group. Different cultures exist side by side. o Denial of education: Not letting some cultures become educated. o Hybridity: The term used to describe the cultural changes resulting from the intersection of two differing cultures. Deculturalization and cultural genocide of native Americans: o Anglo-Americans believed that discipline, authority, and memorization where necessary to break the will of the child. This would cause the child to have respect for those in authority.  This is contradictory to Native Americans who raised children as a tribe. o Anglo-Americans believed in hard work and accumulating wealth. Native Americans believed in not taking more than they needed. o Anglo-Americans had conservative views on sexuality due to the 6th commandment. This caused them to label Native Americans as “filthy” because they did not share these same religious views. o Indian women held more power than colonial women. Thus, some colonial women married Indian men and joined the Indian tribe.

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o All of these differences caused Anglo-Americans to seek to stamp out Indian culture in society. Early native American educational programs: o Christian missionaries attempt to convert Indian tribes to Christianity. o Indian tribes view their culture as superior and do not want to be influenced by Christianity or Europeans. The Naturalization act of 1790: States that only free white people are American citizens. The colonialization of the 5 civilized tribes: o After the Revolutionary War, there where several large Indian tribes in the southern states. Wanting this land, America attempted to buy this land from the Indians. o To make the Indians willing to sell their land, Thomas Jefferson introduced the Indians to American culture and animal husbandry. This led these tribes to assimilate more so into American culture. o American founding fathers rejected the idea of a multi-cultural society. o Andrew Jackson as president has the 5 civilized tribes sentenced to the Trail of Tears....