Melting Pot or Supreme Pizza?
The assimilation into American society of different cultural elements
Asian Influence: Indian Influence: Spanish Influence: African Influence: German Influence:
Martial Arts Yoga Cuisine Music Kindergarten &
the Christmas Tree
Asian Influence – Martial Arts
Soon after the discovery of gold in California, the United States received an influx of Asian
immigrants – Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos and South Asians. Beside their specific food,
language, attire and traditions, they brought with them their knowledge of Asian martial arts.
Initially confined to local ethnic groups and specific festivals, the unusual combative sports
attracted wider interest especially after the second World War, when Japanese masters began
teaching karate to American service men.
Bruce Lee, a Chinese martial arts master, philosopher, actor and director made martial arts
even more popular through his movies and the school of martial arts he founded in 1959.
Bruce Lee
Today many forms of Asian martial arts are very popular among people of
all ages, and the fighting styles in movies and TV shows incorporate the
techniques specific to these martial arts. Karate, judo, kung-fu,
taekwondo have become part of our vocabulary.
Bibliography
https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2016/11/24/the-immigrant-experience-asian-martial-arts-in-the-
united-states-and-canada-by-joseph-r-svinth/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee#Honors
Freepik.com (for vector image)
Martial arts classes for children
Indian Influence - Yoga
Yoga represents a set of physical, mental, and spiritual
practices having origins in ancient India.
In 1893, Swami Vivekananda, gave several lectures at
the Chicago World Parliament of Religions and marked
the start of modern yoga in the United States.
Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk,
philosopher, author and religious teacher who had a
major contribution in the introduction of Yoga to the
Western world.
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda on the platform of the Parliament of Religions
(first row, third from the left)
As time passed, yoga became a popular way to increase flexibility, gain
strength, and reduce stress, and today it is no longer an exotic practice
associated with Hinduism, but a physical and mental exercise that can be
practiced at any age.
Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_in_the_United_States
Freepik.com (for vector image and photo of class)
Yoga classes today
Spanish Influence - Food
Since the United States and Mexico share a border and some sounthern territory that is now a part
of the U.S. once belonged to Mexico, it is only natural that Spanish culture had great influence on
American society, from art and religion to architecture and food.
California, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Kansas had
previously been part of Mexico and even if they were ceded to the U.S., the people there retained
their way of life. During and after the Mexican Revolution, many Mexicans sought refuge in the
United States and brought with them their traditions from home, including the dishes they were
accustomed to.
Tacos, guacamole and other food based on corn, beans and salsa have gradually become part of
American society.
Tacos Guacamole Chili
Bibliography
https://www.spanish.academy/blog/12-ways-hispanic-culture-is-changing-america/
Freepik.com (for vector image and photos)
African Influence – Music
African musical traditions gave birth to new rhythms, like jazz, gospel, blues and
later on, influenced rock and roll and hip hop. Initially, song was used by African
slaves brought to America as a means of sharing the events in their lives and to
make their life more bearable.
In the late 1900s, in New Orleans, a new genre of music could be heard, called jazz. It combined American
and European classical music with African slave songs and with inspiration from West African culture.
Gospel music is sacred music and it mixes blues with jazz and sacred hymns. It emerged in the 1920s and
Thomas E. Dorsey is considered to be the creator of American gospel music.
The blues were originally heard on Southern plantations in the 19th century, sung by slaves and ex-slaves and
are heavily influenced by traditional African music. Its name is derived from the fact that this type of music
generally expresses feelings of sadness or melancholy.
Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa
n-American_music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues
Freepik.com (for vector images)
Listen to jazz: Listen to gospel: Listen to blues:
Fats Waller, Thomas Dorsey, Mamie Smith,
“Honeysuckle Rose” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” “Crazy Blues”
German Influence – Kindergarten and the Christmas Tree
The concept of kindergarten was a German Also, to the German immigrants we owe the existence of
one and the first kindergarten in the United a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. They brought this
States was opened by German immigrant tradition from their homeland and the first record of a
Margarethe Schurz, in 1856. The language Christmas tree in an American home was in the 1830’s, in
spoken was German and it had such an impact the home of a German settler.
that it led to the founding of the first English
kindergarten in 1860.
Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues
Freepik.com (for vector images)
