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Assimilation Strategy

One of my roommates and closest friends is a Mexican immigrant; for anonymity's sake let's call him "S." His parents illegally immigrated and found residence here. S was very young when this occurred but nonetheless he has had to live somewhat secretively. He grew up speaking both Spanish and English and constantly pursued advanced placement programs throughout the course of his education. He is now attending college studying Ornithology. I have known him since high school and I never considered his citizenship until he disclosed this information to me. He has grown up and acted strictly American by our society's definition. He is American after all. However, he has a heritage culture that he does not identify with. His family dynamic, including Spanish communication, is a part of his culture he cannot escape but it almost seems like he would if he could. He wishes to bear no semblance to his heritage culture. He reserves positive attitudes toward his host culture and negative attitudes toward his heritage culture. This is literally our textbook definition of an assimilation strategy for acculturation. S becomes very uncomfortable talking about his Mexican heritage and speaking Spanish in front of his peers. He is well aware that we hold no judgement and clearly accept him the way he is. He disclosed to me his fears of deportation before his DACA was officially approved. He cannot escape his heritage but he continues to try. He bears no resentment toward his family or any other Mexican peoples (or at least I have not observed any attitudes/behaviors that would suggest implicit bias, internalized racism, or ethnocentrism), he just does not wish to retain any remnants of his heritage culture. Psychologically this would make sense, considering the racism he experienced from a young age and the confusion that must have resulted from trying to juggle two cultures, two languages, and two very different lives without any concrete concept of identity. I was often perplexed by S's behavior in this regard, but from the perspective of an acculturation strategy this is much easier to grasp. Acculturation strategies are a necessity; how could I judge which strategy a person chooses to utilize?

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