Welcome to Provoke Weekly. A digital publication from Dieste to help keep you current with the cultural trends and marketing developments that matter most. With inspirational nuggets that will provoke better insights, ideas and results.

To Hyphenate or Not to Hyphenate?


The term “hyphenated American” commonly used in the early 1900s is now outdated, and its need within American culture is scarce. Eric Liu, author of “A Chinaman’s Chance,” explains why he chooses not to use the hyphen when describing himself: “American is the noun, Chinese the adjective. Or, rather, Chinese is one adjective. I am many kinds of American.”
 
Similarly to Liu, E.W. Jackson, founder of Staying True To America’s National Destiny (STAND), says labeling ourselves as “African-American” or “Irish-American” only further excludes. “It is about uniting a diverse group of people with a common love for freedom, democracy and the ideals of our nation,” says Jackson.
 
How one decides to define their citizenship is a personal choice; however, “if we restrict ourselves to our ethnic enclaves and ethnic identities, we deprive ourselves of the great benefits of the American experiment,” he adds.
 
No matter how you define it, America will continue to grow in its diversity and unite cultures in more ways than one.
 
Danielle Harkness, Creative Department
Jesse Echeverria, Community Manager

Skipping the Hyphen 

To many in the USA, leaving the tiny hyphen out of "Chinese American" or "Mexican American" speaks loudly. After all, you can be many kinds of American; a short American, a frugal American, an educated American. 

Get the scoop...

The End of the 
Hyphenated American
 

Maybe the hyphen acts more as a divider than anything else.

Get the scoop...

A Hyphenated 
Americans Discussion
 

Insight on the experiences of the immigrant and what being the "adjective" means.

Get the scoop...

"Hyphenated American" 

The Definition 

Taking a look at what the wiki-world provides as the definition and history of the term "hyphenated American".

Get the scoop...
Copyright © 2014 Dieste. All rights reserved.