Tapestry

Sound Bite

American culture is a rich and complex tapestry of colorful threads from at least five continents, and in recent decades increased immigration has meant that the pace of change is accelerating. It's time for us to get to know ourselves and really appreciate this rich, vast, and rapidly expanding culture.This book explores the contributions of Hispanic, Black, Native American, Oriental, Jewish and other cultures to a nation where many people still focus on the influences of Christian, capitalist, and ethnically European (particularly British) heritage.

About the Book

Written for a general audience, 'Tapestry' explores the myths of American culture and reveals surprising cultural roots including the fact that American democracy and representative government were inspired more by Native American ways than by the ancient Greeks and Romans.Capitalism has become an unchallenged idea, a cultural universal, and so dogmatic that coupled with Christianity it has become America's dominant religion. However, capitalism is a 19th-century concept created for the bygone industrial era. Now the system is showing decay. Unfortunately, America is an ethnocentric country whose jingoistic belief in its own exceptionalism may prevent needed change. American culture has been both inclusive and intolerant. Today it stands at a crossroad and must decide what road to take. Are we to enter a renaissance or a dark age?

Table content

Table of ContentsIntroduction to American CultureChapter 1. American Ethnocentrism & the Myth of American ExceptionalismChapter 2. Native RootsChapter 3. Latinos, Hispanics, Chicanos, Tejanos, and NuyoricansChapter 4. African-American CultureChapter 5. Asian-AmericansChapter 6. The European-AmericansChapter 7. Canadian-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Polynesians and Mixed RacesChapter 8. The American LanguageChapter 9. American Religion and Belief SystemsChapter 10. Regional CulturesChapter 11. The 1950sChapter 12. Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies, and the 1960s Counter�­CultureChapter 13. Radio & TelevisionChapter 14. The Theatre & MoviesChapter 15. Literacy, Education and LiteratureChapter 16. Blues and JazzChapter 17. American Gun CultureChapter 18. American Military CultureChapter 19. American Oil CultureChapter 20. Class & CultureChapter 21. Immigration, Migration and MobilityChapter 22. American Cyber CultureChapter 23. The American Cult of PersonalityChapter 24. American Economics and the Religion of CapitalismChapter 25. Anti-Communism'The Ultimate In American XenophobiaChapter 26. Conclusions From American CultureBibliographyAcknowledgementsIndex