Hyphen-Nation

American Perspectives on Diversity

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Immigration and diversity: they are the biggest, hottest, most painful issues in the Netherlands. America is the land of diversity. What is the secret to America’s approach? It’s a tiny thing: the hyphen. Everyone in the U.S. has a dual identity: Mexican-American, Italian-American, African-American…America tells newcomers: “Become American, join us…but don’t lose your origins!” Can …

Immigration and diversity: they are the biggest, hottest, most painful issues in the Netherlands. America is the land of diversity. What is the secret to America’s approach? It’s a tiny thing: the hyphen. Everyone in the U.S. has a dual identity: Mexican-American, Italian-American, African-American…America tells newcomers: “Become American, join us…but don’t lose your origins!” Can America’s approach to diversity work for the Netherlands?

The John Adams institute hosted a day-long event on this topic which included speeches and remarks by then U.S. Ambassador Fay Hartog Levin, and then Dutch Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans. It also included a public keynote address by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

 

In collaboration with: U.S. Embassy in The Hague, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

 


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