bai giang american culture 6611

6/17/2021 AMERICAN CULTURE A course for 3rd year-students in TMU TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION 10 11 12 The American Religious heritage The world of American business Government and politics in the United States Presidents of the United States Ethnic and racial assimilation in the United States Education in the United States Study in the United States for foreign students Leisure time: Organized sports, recreation, and television Holidays and festivals in the United States The American family Social relationships; male-female relationships in the United States American values at the crossroads: The United States in the 21st century CHAPTER INTRODUCTION “Culture hides much more than it reveals, and strangely enough what it hides, it hides most effectively from its own participants Years of study have convinced me that the real job is not to understand foreign culture but to understand our own.” Edward T Hall 6/17/2021 Questions for discussion     What you think about Americans? What you know about the ethnic diversity of the American population? Where did they originally come from? What you think about Americans’ opinion that they have no culture? Do you think it is possible to make generalizations about Americans? Life in the United States  Popular questions to ask about a different culture:      What people believe in? What they value most in life? What motivates them? Why they behave the way they do? things to consider when answering these Qs about USA:   The immense size of the United States Great ethnic diversity A nation of immigrants       1815: 8.4 million people in the US 1882: 40,000 Chinese immigrants 1900 – 1907: 30,000 Japanese immigrants The largest number of immigrants: from central, eastern, and southern Europe First decades of 20th century: million immigrants/ year 1910: 15% of Americans born in another country A nation of immigrants  1921  – 1965: quota system established => limit immigration (Immigration Act of 1924) 1965 – immigration laws changed to help family reunifications:   => yearly total rise again: from 300,000/year (1960s) to over million/year (1990s) => large number of non-Europeans (Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia) 6/17/2021 A nation of immigrants  21st century immigration patterns – change the color and the ethnic mix of the American population     Historically, many children of immigrants - be “American” by nature (not speak the language of the old country)  However, established communities with common language or culture: bilingualism and biculturalism continue Percentage of white Americans of European descent: smaller More than half of all new immigrants: from Latin America   Cultural Pluralism in the United States => large concentrations of Spanish speakers around the country (California, Florida, Texas, etc.) More than ¼ of first-generation immigrants: from Asia Minority nonwhite population – grow >< majority white grow smaller Cultural Pluralism in the United States  At the close of 20th century: rise in consciousness of ethnic groups and a sense of pride in what makes them unique New names to symbolize each group’s identity  People – more sensitive to the language used to describe them    Cultural Pluralism in the United States  Inspite of important differences, a tie binding Americans together  The tie = a sense of national identity – of “being an American” Black Americans – prefer African-American to Black Spanish – prefer Latinos to Hispanics 6/17/2021 Making Generalization About American Beliefs   Is it possible to make generalizations about what Americans believe? Yes, it is, but we must be cautious about generalizations American Beliefs and Values Not all Americans hold basic beliefs Not all believe these things to the same degree  Way Americans pratice their beliefs differ => great variety of lifestyles   Questions for discussion “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”  Why some people want to come and live in the United States?  What you think Americans believe is the best thing about their country?  What is the ―American Dream‖? The Declaration of Independence 6/17/2021 The context of traditional American values: racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity  Greater diversity of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups than all other nations (from 21st century) (North American continent) settlers (Southwest, Florida)  French missionaries and fur traders (Mississippi River)  Black slaves (from African countries)  Dutch settlers (New York)  German (Pennsylvania)  The British colonists -> language, foundation for political and economic system The context of traditional American values: racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity   Native Americans  Spanish Individualism and Self-Reliance  Historical background  The earliest settlers coming to the North American continent:  Purpose: To establish colonies free from the controls existing in European societies (placed on by kings, governments, priests and churches, noblemen and aristocrats)  Americans:  Recognize the diversity (as a fact of life)  See strength in the diversity America – historically viewed as ―the land of opportunity‖: set of values (reasons to attract immigrants)  The chance for individual freedom (-> self-reliance)  Equality of opportunity (-> competition)  Material wealth (-> hard work) Individualism and Self-Reliance  Actions:  Overthrow the King of England  Declare: the power to govern would lie in the hands of the people  1776, British colonial settlers:  Declare independence from England  Establish a new nation: The United States of America  -> free from power of the King  1789: write Constitution for the new nation:  Separate church and state -> no government-supported church -> limit the power of the church  Forbid titles of nobility -> no ruling class of nobility 6/17/2021 Individualism and Self-Reliance  Individualism and Self-Reliance Effect on the shaping of the American character  Limiting  Price government’s power and the church  Eliminating  Reason: individuals rely on themselves OR risk losing freedom  Desire: achieve financial and emotional independence from parents as early as possible (18 or 21)  Actions: a formal aristocracy => create a climate of freedom (emphasis on the individual) => USA – associated with the concept of individual freedom  Freedom = desire and ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, … -> desire to be free of controls = basic value of the new nation Individualism and Self-Reliance  Americans’ belief in self-reliance (in the 1830s) ―They owe nothing to any man, they expect nothing from any man; they acquire the habit of always considering themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands.” (De Tocqueville)  Self-reliance:  Traditional basic value difficult character to understand  Profoundly important  Most  -> to be in the mainstream of American life (power and respect) -> self-reliant for individual freedom: self-reliance  Take care of themselves  Solve their own problems  ―Stand on their own two feet‖ Equality of opportunity and Competition  Immigrants coming to the USA expecting:  Free from excessive political, religious and social controls -> better chance for personal success  Historical effects:  Titles of nobility forbidden in the Constitution -> no formal class system -> belief in Equality of opportunity 6/17/2021 Equality of opportunity and Competition  Uniformity of conditions of life in the USA (1830s) expressed by De Tocqueville: Equality of opportunity and Competition   Life ―The more I advanced in the study of American society, the more I perceive that … equality of condition is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived.” Equality of opportunity and Competition  President Abraham Lincoln expressed this belief (1860s) ―We … wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else When one starts poor, as most in the race of life, free society is such that he knows he can better his condition; he knows that there is no fixed condition of labor for his whole life.” Equality of opportunity: Each individual should have an equal chance for success – a race for success  Equality  The = equal chance to enter the race and win race for success: fair Equality of opportunity and Competition  Price for equality of opportunity: competition  Life = race -> run the race to success -> must compete with others  Americans: match energy and intelligence against that of others in a competitive contest for success:  Like to compete, more successful -> honored winners  Not like to compete, not successful -> dishonored losers 6/17/2021 Equality of opportunity and Competition  Pressures of competition: from childhood to Material wealth and hard work  retirement   Competition: encouraged and taught in USA Pressure to compete:    -> Americans: energetic Place a constant emotional strain  Feel useless and unwanted Not have as much honor and respect as in other societies Material wealth and hard work Acquiring and maintaining a large number of material possessions: great importance to most Americans  Material wealth: traditionally be a widely accepted measure of success and social status   Many were able to improve upon their former standard of living  Slogan for the great American Dream: ―going from rags to riches‖ -> retirement:   Incredibly abundant natural resources -> America – ―a land of plenty‖ (millions could come to seek fortunes) Reason: reject system of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility -> find a substitute for judging social status Material wealth and hard work  Price for material wealth: Hard work  Reason: North American continent: rich in natural resources but undeveloped -> hard work: convert natural resources into material possessions (-> more comfortable standard of living) 6/17/2021 Material wealth and hard work  Hard work: necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout history -> material possessions: natural reward for hard work (tangible evidence of work and ability)  Late 1700s, James Madison (father of American Constitution) stated: the difference in material possessions reflected a difference in personal abilities Material wealth and hard work Fact: economic decline -> many workers suffer: longer working hours but less money -> no longer believe: hard work -> great material rewards  Till, most Americas believe in value of hard work  Idealism vs reality  Values: may not necessarily describe reality of American life  Equality  The world of American Business Reality:      of opportunity: ideal not always put into practice Some better chance for success than others Those born into rich families – more opportunities than those born into poorer families Inheriting money = an advantage … However, not diminish values’ importance  Many: believe in, strongly affected in everyday lives to understand what Americans are thinking and feeling if understand values and the influences  Easier 6/17/2021 Questions for discussion Why you think business has high prestige in the United States? The business of America is business Why people want to go into business for themselves? Would you want to be your own boss? President Calvin Coolidge What does it mean to “go from rags to riches”? How is the workforce of the United States changing? The prestige of Business The characteristics of American Business   Private and Profit  “Business directly/ indirectly owned by private individuals to make a profit.”   Important truth: Business institutions have more prestige in American society than any other kind of organization, including the government The ideal of competition The dream of getting rich 10 6/17/2021 Four stages of marriage relationships  According to Letha and John Scanzoni (A sociologists), stages of development of the institution of marriage in the US (increase in the degree of equality and power of wife to husband) Four stages of marriage relationships  Stage 1: Wife as Servant to Husband  During 19th century, A wives completely obedient to their husbands  Stage 1: Wife as Servant to Husband  1850, wife beating – legal in almost all states  Stage 2: Husband- head, Wife-helper  Wife’s possessions – belong to husband  Stage 3: Husband-senior partner, Wife-junior partner  Stage 4: Husband-Wife equal partners Four stages of marriage relationships  Stage 2: Husband-Head, Wife-Helper  Late 19th century and early 20th century, opportunities for women to work outside – increase  => increase wife’s power in the marriage  Husband no longer make family decision alone  Wife freer to disagree with husband and to insist that her view be taken into account in family decisions  Though, husband remained head of the family  Wife = full-time helper by taking care of his house and raising his children  => increase status for women in the society at large and lead to women’s  Not allowed to vote Four stages of marriage relationships  Stage 3: Husband-Senior Partner, Wife-Junior Partner  During 20th century, more wives taken jobs outside the homes  1940, 14% of married women held jobs outside  1990s, more than 60% did  => wife's power relative to that of husband increase further  Wife’s income – important in maintaining the family’s living standard  Wife’s power to affect the outcome of family decisions greater  Though, wife not an equal partner with her husband  Husband’s job provide more of the family income  => husband = the senior partner; wife = the junior partner gaining the right to vote in early 20th century 44 6/17/2021 Four stages of marriage relationships  Stage 4: Husband-Wife Equal Partners  Since late 1960s, growing number of women expressing a strong dissatisfaction with any marriage arrangement where the husband and his career be the primary considerations in the marriage  End of 1970s, 38% of the women still believed that they should put husband and children ahead of their career  1990s, most women believe that they should be equal partners in their marriage and that their husbands should have equal responsibility for child care and household chores  In an equal-partnership marriage Four stages of marriage relationships  Reality nowadays  Women generally earn less than men for the same work  Women spend more time taking care of children, cooking and cleaning house  Many women still resentful: feel like have two full-time jobs (one at work and one at home)  Some find that lifestyle exhausting and unrewarding  Wife pursues a full-time job of equal importance to her husband  Husband no longer remains provider of family income  Power over family shared equally The role of the family in society  So much importance placed on achieving individual freedom and equality within family  => gain a number of benefits for Americans (needs and desires of each member are given a great deal of attention and importance)  => a price is paid  Families less stable and lasting  High rate of divorce The role of the family in society  American attitude toward the family: many contradictions  Tolerate instability in family -> protect such values as freedom and equality  Strongly attached to the idea of the family as the best of all lifestyles  What is family life?     26% - ―typical‖ American family (a father, mother and children) Many – ―step families‖ or ―blended families‖ A number of single parents raising children alone In recent years, gay and lesbian couples created family units => Definition of ―family‖ much broader in the 90s’: ―people who live together and love each other‖ 45 6/17/2021 The role of the family in society  Sociologist and psychologists: the family is the best place for children to learn moral values and a sense of responsibility  Since 1990s, voice concern over what was happening to many children in America  Today, the state of the American family frequently discussed  Majority of Americans believe: the institution of the family and ―family Family values  11 points that a majority of Americans agree are ―family values‖ Six classified (by Yankelovich) as “clearly traditional” Respecting one’s parents Being responsible for one’s actions Having faith in God Respecting authority values‖ – in deep trouble and ask the schools to provide more moral Married to the same person for life education than in the past Leaving the world in better shape Five as “a blend of traditional and newer, more expensive values” Giving emotional support to other members of the family Respecting people for themselves Developing greater skill in communicating one’s feeling Respecting one’s children Living up to one’s potential as an individual LEISURE TIME: ORGANIZED SPORTS, RECREATION, AND TELEVISION 46 6/17/2021 American values Equality of opportunity • Nowhere are the ways and words of democracy better illustrated than in sports • Amateur athletics, associated with schools and colleges, are valued for teaching young people traditional American values Professional sports, in addition to their profit and entertainment purposes, are seen as providing an example to inspire the young to take part in organized sports Equality of opportunity  Competition Organized sports (football, basketball, and baseball) are seen by Americans as an inspiring example of equality of opportunity in action In sports, people of different races and economic backgrounds get an equal chance to excel 47 6/17/2021 Competition  The idea of competition is at the very heart of organized sports in the United States Many Americans believe that learning how to win in sports helps develop the habits necessary to compete successfully in later life This training, in turn, strengthens American society as a whole  When the idea of wining in sports is carried to excess, however, honorable competition can turn into disorder and violence  Another criticism of professional sports is that the players and the team owners get too much money, while fans have to pay more and more for tickets to the games  Meanwhile, there is, however, also a tradition of honorable defeat in American sports Other things, such as fair play, following the rules of the game, and behaving with dignity when one is defeated, are also important Hard-work Hard-work  It would seem that Americans carry over their belief in hard work into their world of play and recreation  What began in the 1970s as the ―physical fitness craze‖ has become a way of life for many A number of people regularly work out at sports clubs-lifting weights, swimming, playing squash or racquetball, participating in aerobic exercise classes, or using exercise bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, or stairsteppers Long-distance marathon races are so popular that the organizers often have to limit the number of people who can participate 48 6/17/2021 LEISURE ACTIVITIES Self-improvement  The self-improvement motive, however, can also be seen in many other popular forms of recreation that involve little or no physical activity  The recreational interests of Americans also show a continuing respect for selfreliance, and sometimes the adventure and danger, of frontier life  Many others are choosing to go white water rafting, mountain climbing, sky diving, helicopter skiing, and bungee jumping U.S park officials complain about the number of people who take life-threatening risks in national parks and have to be rescued ― It is as if they are looking for hardship,‖ one park official stated, ― They seem to enjoy the danger and the physical challenge‖ Television and its impact 49 6/17/2021 Facts and figures Individuals age 75 and over spent more of their leisure time watching TV, reading, and relaxing and thinking than individuals ages 15 to 19 The younger age group spent more of its leisure time engaging in sports and exercise and playing games and using the computer for leisure They spent the same amount of time socializing and communicating (Data are from the 2015 survey Sports and recreation in the US and Vietnam - Role of the Sports - Individual Sports - Team sports Discussion What are cultural values reinforced in sports and leisure activities of American people? What are other values most realized in American sports? What are Vietnamese values in sports and entertainment? What are people’s attitudes towards sports professions in both countries? 50 6/17/2021 Factors that affect American history American Values at The Crossroads: The United States in The 21st Century http://dichvudanhvanban.com The US has always had a racially and ethnically diverse population Have a strong distrust of their government and a strong faith in its design • Sometimes, these people get along well together and sometimes they not • great suspition and even hatred between people of different races and national orgins • In the darkest time, there have always been individuals who help up the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence 51 6/17/2021 • Over a period of more than 200 years, they have amended the United States Constitution only 26 times • The framework of political systems was designed to protect freedom and individual rights of citizens • Americans believe that this system has successfully carried the nation from the 18th century through the 20th , and it will still protect them in the 21th century A long traditional of isolationism • • It is true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world Americans are very reluctant to see the US become involved in international military actions • Americans are also skeptical international economic alliances • Americans are more interested in what is happening close to home than the rest of the world about The right of free speech and the existence of a free press • All people have the right to express their opinions about everything from public policy to private concerns all the problems of the country are displayed for the rest of the world to see • American believe so strongly in the freedom and the worth of the individual + They had an optimistic faith in the ability of individual The US goes through different political and economic phases • Economy is in good shape, people are more optimistic about the states of their country and life • As the mood swings backs and forth from optimistic to pessimistic, or from liberal to conservative, the traditional values have so far remained • There is no statistically significant difference in the attitudes and values of young people, the middle-aged, or the older generation 52 6/17/2021 L/O/G/O Comparison The US Vietnam the US has always had a racially and The population of VN has considerable ethnically diverse population diversity with 54 ethnical nationalities such as: Kinh, Khmer, Hmong… Americans have traditional had a strong Vietnamese have a strong trust of their distrust of their government but they have government with a single-party had a strong faith in its design The right of free speech and the existence of The Vietnam constitution stated that citizens a free press are allowed have right freedom of speech and publication in accordance with law There is a long traditional of isolationism Vietnamese uphold the sprit of solidarity, mutual assistance The US goes through different political and Vietnam was colonized by many different economic phrase that have a strong effect on forces throughout its history, it influences the mood of people strongly on the national politic and economy Challenges to American Values in 20th century http://dichvudanhvanban.com In the first decades, America experienced a large wave of immigration to its shores in the years following the American Civil War and Reconstruction The 20th century was a time of enormous changes in American life • In the early decades of the 20th century the American people benefited from industrial growth – Cheap labor and assembly-line manufacturing made mass production possible – Railroad networks carried the mass-produced goods, many of them the result of new technologies, around the country more retailers expanded their operations and the laid the foundation for the consumer-driven society – The US’s industry grew promptly after World War I and The United sates enjoyed the economic prosperity during the ― Roaring Twenties‖ – The stock market crash of 1929 ushered in the Great Depression of the 1930s Until World War II that the economy turned around and created new factory jobs due to need for weapons http://dichvudanhvanban.com • In the years between 1881 and 1920 more than 23 million new immigrants arrived in the United States This wave of immigrants came from all part of the world, but more came from southern and eastern European countries than any other regions http://dichvudanhvanban.com 53 6/17/2021 A large wave of immigration A large wave of immigration By the late nineteenth century, transoceanic transportation had become significantly cheaper and less difficult, making it easier for poor Europeans to immigrate to the United States •  The first decade of this period saw most of the immigrants coming from northern and western Europe  After 1890, the majority came from southern and Eastern Europe • Immigrants moved into the poorer sections of the major cities — New York's Lower East Side, for example — and often into neighborhoods abandoned by upwardly mobile immigrant groups These neighborhoods, which helped ease the transition from greenhorn (as newcomers were often called) to citizen, were terribly overcrowded, with upward of 4,000 people housed on a single block Such overcrowding contributed to poverty, crime, and disease  Native‐born Americans were troubled by the influx of foreigners, who seemed very different from earlier immigrants  New immigrants were often portrayed as dangerous radicals ready to undermine the American political system or as threats to the jobs of American workers because of their willingness to settle for lower wages Given these attitudes toward foreigners, it is not surprising that calls for restrictions on immigration began to sound  Major push factor for immigrants of this period were European population growth and subsequent overcrowding, scarcity of land, unemployment and food shortages  The immigrants thought the US’ industry was growing and the country has many jobs and they had opportunity to live in a free and democratic society But a third of them not find the better life when they were seeking and even they left the United States and went back home http://dichvudanhvanban.com http://dichvudanhvanban.com On the 1950s, it was considered as an age of economic prosperity and national stability • • • Historians use the word “boom” to describe a lot of things about the 1950s: the booming economy, the booming suburbs and most of all the so-called “baby boom.” There was another side to the 50s, the Cold War with Soviet Union was in full swing, leading to fears of a nuclear holocaust and the communist takeover the world There were two problems in the 1950s that had to be dealt with in 1960s: poverty and segregation http://dichvudanhvanban.com Poverty • • • • The onslaught of America’s war is occurring at the height of a global economic depression marked by the downfall of State institutions, mounting unemployment, Financial markets have plummeted national economies have collapsed and had put millions of people into abysmal poverty In the 1960s, President Johnson pushed through a plan called ―The Great Society‖ to war on poverty and the next to decades the percentage of poor people dip drop However, these programs began to create an expectation that the government, not the individual, should solve social problems http://dichvudanhvanban.com 54 6/17/2021 Segregation Segregation The second problems was the continued legal segregation in the South • •  Black Americans were regarded by many as second- class and the blacks were separated from whites by law and by private action in transportation, public accommodations, recreational facilities , prisons,… • Although the Supreme Court ruled in 1954, the segregation in public schools was unconstitutional It was not until the abolition of slavery in the United States, the nonviolent amendments and civil rights acts of the 1960s that segregation ended These Civil Rights led to the eventual passage of laws to protect the rights and equality of opportunity of black Americans In 1940, only 11% of blacks between 25 and 29 had completed high school, compared to 39% of whites Today the percentage is about the same for both races http://dichvudanhvanban.com http://dichvudanhvanban.com The 1960s are most often remembers as a decade of violence and unrest Violence and unrest Many leaders were assassinated The war in Vietnam and Watergate scandal These were riots in the number of big cities http://dichvudanhvanban.com 55 6/17/2021 The war in Vietnam • War in Vietnam (1959–63) led to a major US escalation of its involvement • After Kennedy's death, President Johnson vastly increased the number of American troops Vietnam • By 1966, the struggle in Vietnam become a major American war • In November 1965, the U.S engaged in its first major battle with the North Vietnamese Army The War in Vietnam • By 1967, these operations had generated large-scale internal refugees • Nearly 2.1 million in South Vietnam, with 125,000 people evacuated and rendered homeless during Operation Masher alone • By 1975, North Vietnam conquered South Vietnam • Most Americans had been brought up believing that the United States had never lost a war Watergate scandal  The Watergate scandal began in mid-1972 following a break-in at the Watergate Hotel Complex on June 17 of five burglars  The risk of being deposed parliament, August 9, 1974, President Nixon announced his resignation  South Vietnam lost its guarantor of the Paris Peace Accords Nixon’s resignation was such a serious blow for South Vietnamese government  Apparently, the Watergate Scandal had indirectly contributed heavily to the rapid collapse of South Vietnam in early 1975 and the eventual fall of the country on April 30 56 6/17/2021  It became clear in the 1970s that there was no longer an abundance of cheap energy and that shortages of other essential resources such as water were becoming more serious  Conservation has never been a strong American value  66% of Americans agreed with the statement: "I'm not that unhappy about the possibility of shortages because I know it will encourage me to use everything efficiently and not wastefully." • It can become stronger only as Americans see the need for it more and more clearly • Conservation may well be a new value which needs to be added to the old basic values in order to help the US deal with its future problems Americans have always viewed cooperation as important in small groups such as the family, the neighborhood, or the church  The American idea of the national good has never been based on national cooperation but rather on the freedom of the individual Americans, therefore, tend to think of the national good in terms of maintaining those conditions that provide the greatest freedom for the individual  The American value of competition also hinders the development of a Americans tend to associate the greatness of their nation far more with such values as individual freedom, equality of opportunity, hard work, and competition than with national cooperation spirit of national cooperation 57 6/17/2021 COMPARISON • Americans should learn use less and waste less • The need to protect the environment • Americans may need to place a stronger value on a national scale to achieve important national objectives • Need more proactive, confident sharing one’s own idea and dare to act • Learning and applying knowledge sustainable development and environmental protection • Vietnamese should learn use less and waste less too • The need for protect the environment (especially air pollution: Hanoi is at risk of entering the world's most air polluted cities, on par with Beijing) • Need promote export to have a close relationship with others countries and sustainable economic • Need reduce achievement obsession in education, be aware of one’s own abilities The United States: The First Universal Nation? America is a nation of immigrants In the 21st century, the United States may have reached the saturation point due to a large number of immigrants New immigrants bring new life and energy into the United States “People all over the world, listen to our music, read our books, watch our tapes… American culture – for all its ills and all its glory – has become the only broad-based global culture” Ben J.Wattenberg The diversity of ideas and cultures in the nation may be one of its greatest source of strength as it moves into the 21st century 58 ... create the ? ?American culture? ?? in the US? What group had the strongest influence on shaping the dominant American culture? Why you think some groups might assimilate to the American culture more... larger American culture (finding them houses, jobs) The African -American Experience  Americans of African descent have had the greatest difficulty in becoming assimilated into the larger culture. .. contributions of African-Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans Multicultural education  information about African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and other minorities  Adopt American literature