According to prominent American sociologist Joseph Elton, “Acculturation is the adoption of cultural traits, norms and customs by one society from another… There is no clear line [that] can be drawn between acculturation and assimilation processes. Assimilation is the end–product of a process of acculturation, in which an individual has changed so much as to become dissociated from the value system of his group, or in which the entire group disappears as an autonomously functioning social system.”

Acculturation and assimilation by newcomers to a new culture is a personal and self-determined process – the right to make one’s own decisions without interference from others. No one can force a newly arrived legal and properly vetted immigrant to accept the cultural traditions, lifestyle, and customs of his/her new country. The newcomer himself must see a socio–economic necessity and benefits in accepting new traditions and values to ultimately embrace and accept his/her new culture without external influence.

True, for a newcomer’s adaptation, these socio-economic and cultural categories are essential for survival in a foreign environment.

Indeed, language, religion, education, economics, technology, social organization, art, appearance and political structure are typical categories of culture. Culture is a uniquely human system of habits, moral values, and customs carried by the society from one’s distant past to the present.

True, for a newcomer’s adaptation, these socio-economic and cultural categories are essential for survival in a foreign environment. Nevertheless, changing/adapting people’s behavior (e.g., temperament, manners, demeanor, gestures, conducts, actions, bearing, comportment, preferences, motivation, ambition, etc.) is the most critical obstacle for acculturation and assimilation to new cultural traditions. To assimilate to a new socio-economic environment, newcomers often face culture shocks, as I did in my early days in the United States.

I was born and raised in an internationally isolated, socially closed and predominantly Caucasian socialist society—Kiev, former Soviet Union. While riding public transportation in Kiev, I would, occasionally, be in the presence of a student from Africa and, like everybody else, I would stare at this person with an epistemic curiosity. In fact, it was only upon my arrival to the United States (Philadelphia) in February of 1978 that I, for the first time, interacted with black people and other ethnic minorities daily in various public places; I have not had any preconceptions about – or prejudice – toward blacks or other ethnic groups in America – absolutely none.

Initially, as a young emigree in my mid-20s in the United States, I held various menial minimum-wage jobs: shoveled snow, painted houses, assisted in various construction projects, washed dishes, served customers in the restaurants, and participated in several archaeological projects for Temple University, etc. In 1979, I successfully completed the course of study in mixology and customer service and passed all necessary tests given by the Philadelphia Professional Bartenders School.

Soon after my completion of the Bartender School, I was called for an interview in one of the unassuming bars in Southwest Philadelphia, a large area encompassing Philadelphia International Airport and several residential districts, with streets lined with row houses. Southwest Philadelphia’s demographics included a large West African community and a population that was about 70% black, 25% white, and 5% Asian.

Upon arriving for the interview in the early afternoon, the owner of the bar (middle-aged black man) greeted me and briefly checked my credentials. “You must be a qualified bartender,” he acknowledged, glaring directly into my eyes. “But look around you, what do you see?” he continued, pointing to the surroundings. There were half a dozen black customers in the smokey bar observing the scene of the interview. “You will never make it here, you don’t belong here,” declared the owner and showed me to the door.

A week later I found a bartending job in the Greek “Dionysus Restaurant” in Society Hill, which is nestled in the heart of historic Philadelphia, a picturesque enclave known for its well-preserved Georgian and Federal-style homes. For about a year, I sincerely enjoyed my work, as well as my humorous Greek coworkers, traditional Greek dancing, generous customers, delicious food and the authentic environment of the restaurant until I departed for the Graduate School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in the Fall of 1980.

In 1983, after receiving my M.A. in anthropology from Brown University, I was enrolled in the Ph.D. program in anthropology at Bryn Mawr College until the Summer of 1985. Bryn Mawr is located on the Main Line of the western suburbs of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue. It is a long-established upper-middle class area.

My stipend at Bryn Mawr College was only $400 per month; I had to supplement my income by working the night shift as a security officer at Bryn Mawr College and as a waiter in a small restaurant for several hours in the early afternoon. The restaurant was owned by a Jewish family and mostly visited during lunch hours by middle-aged, elderly, white customers from the neighboring cities. The ambiance in the restaurant was pleasant and the food was delicious.

Frankly, I was a lousy waiter – always tired after my night shift and mentally preoccupied with my studies. However, my coworker, a young black man in his early 20s, was a thorough and energetic waiter. He was quick, disciplined, punctual, served customers efficiently and remembered all items on the menu from A to Z. He was also a hard-working student at Philadelphia Community College. In observing this young man and his work ethic, I could predict that he was going to succeed in life and fulfill his dreams and aspirations. And, eventually, regardless of his race and ethnic background, all doors would be open for him in our country.

Indeed, the process of acculturation and assimilation can be long and turbulent for many legal newcomers. It is critical, therefore, for American society to be inclusive, tolerant and educated in cross–cultural communication to welcome legal and properly vetted newcomers to our multi-ethnic and exceptional country.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

Click here to support the Alaska Watchman.