Are Suburbs Still Lily-White or Have They Become Multicultural, Essay Example

The suburbs in the United States have for many years been predominantly of white cultural makeup.  This has especially been the case with the cultural makeup of suburbs, where immigrants are more likely to be seen in larger cities.  However, due to the historical bases of immigration in the United States and the settling of multicultural Americans, many American suburbs are multicultural.

Immigration

The United States has a long history of immigration which makes it one of the most diverse countries in the world.  Seeking to limit certain groups of immigrants who were coming to the United States in large numbers, the Emergency Quota Act was passed in 1921, followed by the Immigration Act of 1924.  Following a hit in such numbers during the era of the Great Depression, the U.S. Government sponsored a Mexican Repatriation program to encourage citizens to move to Mexico.  These measures represent the reactions from the U.S. from the numbers of immigrants entering the country.

In the latter part of the century immigration numbers increased.  The Immigration and nationality Act Amendments of 1965, which eliminated national-origin quotes for immigrants, spawned non-European nations to begin immigrating to the United States.  Immigration in the United States doubled between 1965 and 1970, and again between 1970 and 1990 from such measures.

Immigration has played a drastic role in the cultural makeup of the United States.  In these high numbers of immigrants, the United States has become one of the more diverse countries in the world.  The immigration of non-European countries and those of Latin Americans in the more recent history of the United States has resulted in multicultural settings across the country’s landscape.

Settling

Immigrants are much more likely to settle in larger cities.  Job opportunities for those beginning a new way of life are certainly found here, which has resulted in a predominantly white makeup of suburbs.  However, over time the multicultural citizens of the United States have become able to spread out within the country.

The settling of non-white ethnic groups outward of larger cities has resulted in a multicultural suburb makeup.  This has especially been seen in regards to Latin and African Americans, where these ethnic groups can more commonly be seen in suburbs than in the past.  The opportunities have opened up outside of the large city, as a result of a less segregated and racist nation, apart from the more natural immigration causes.

Suburbs are now much more commonly multicultural than before. Currently multicultural groups can be seen in today’s suburbs throughout the country.  Prior to this, it was much less common for the suburb to have a multicultural makeup, even when larger cities were becoming more diverse.  The United States has seen the evolution of diversity first in its big cities, and then outwards to suburbs over time.

Conclusion

The history of these multicultural groups has contributed significantly to more diverse suburbs.  With immigration throughout the United States’ history to the recent makeup of the country with regards to Latin and African Americans especially, the suburb has seen the multicultural makeup as a result of these changes in the big cities of America.  While it certainly depends on the geographic area, the average suburb is more commonly multicultural.