What if our big problem is white people refusing to change?

And what if I told you that if you’re willing to change, you could experience improved cognition and more creativity, discover new traditions, try new foods, and maybe get colored powder thrown at your clothes?

That’s because you’re celebrating Holi, also known as the “festival of colors,” a Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring, love, and new life. For democracy to work, we need to coexist. Coexisting takes effort and requires each of us to adapt. That means recognizing our differences, celebrating our similarities, and sometimes changing how we think and act.

This is where assimilation comes in. We often think of assimilation as something that minority groups have to do, learning to fit in with the dominant culture. But assimilation can’t be a one-way street for a society to be truly inclusive. Instead, it should be a mutual process where everyone—especially the majority—tries to understand, respect, and embrace the diverse cultures around them.

When assimilation goes both ways, it strengthens our communities and brings us closer to the ideal of a democracy where everyone belongs.

Assimilation is often a trigger for racists.

Assimilation can be a complex topic, especially considering how cultural integration and mutual understanding work in societies with diverse populations. The idea of assimilation often refers to immigrants adapting to the dominant culture.

In recent years, there’s been more focus on reciprocal assimilation or integration, where members of all groups work to understand, respect, and incorporate elements of each other’s cultures. For white Americans, this can mean embracing multiculturalism, acknowledging systemic histories, and being open to diverse perspectives.

When reframed as a collective integration and mutual understanding process, assimilation emphasizes collaboration and respect among all cultures in a diverse society.

Here are a few ways this can happen:

Education and Awareness: Schools, workplaces, and communities can foster an understanding of history, cultural traditions, and social dynamics, promoting empathy and shared experiences. White Americans can learn more about other cultures, experiences, and systemic inequalities, which helps build solidarity.

Prescription: Communities can promote cultural understanding through events and programs that bring people together meaningfully. Hosting cultural festivals allows residents to experience diverse traditions, food, and music, while storytelling events, like “living libraries,” help community members share personal stories, fostering empathy and breaking down stereotypes.

Workshops on cultural awareness and history, often held at libraries or community centers, can deepen knowledge of systemic inequalities and encourage mutual respect. Collaborative art projects, such as murals representing various local cultures and language exchange programs, further build connections by valuing each culture’s contributions and encouraging personal engagement across backgrounds. These efforts create a shared sense of pride and solidarity, strengthening community bonds.

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Open Dialogue: Conversations around race, culture, and identity help to break down stereotypes and challenge biases. Dialogue groups, workshops, and social events that bring people of different backgrounds together help white Americans appreciate diverse experiences and contribute to a collective identity.

Prescription: Open dialogue plays a powerful role in creating understanding and reducing stereotypes. By organizing dialogue groups, workshops, and social events, communities can bring people from various backgrounds together to openly discuss race, culture, and identity. These conversations allow people, especially white Americans, to hear firsthand experiences that challenge biases and broaden perspectives.

As individuals share their stories and listen to others, they gain insight into the diverse experiences that make up the larger community. These dialogues foster a collective identity rooted in respect and shared understanding, building empathy and helping people feel more connected to each other.

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Cultural Exchange: Participation in cultural events, traditions, and languages can create connections. When white Americans engage with diverse cultures—not as visitors but as participants—they become part of a broader cultural community, enriching their perspectives and creating reciprocal understanding.

Prescription: Cultural exchange, where people actively participate in others’ traditions, languages, and customs, fosters genuine connection and understanding. When white Americans engage in diverse cultural experiences—not as spectators but as active participants—they immerse themselves in shared practices, which broadens their perspectives and builds mutual respect.

This kind of engagement, whether attending festivals, learning new languages, or joining community traditions, creates a reciprocal understanding where all cultures feel valued. By stepping into each other’s worlds, communities develop a collective identity enriched by diverse influences, strengthening social bonds and empathy across cultural lines.

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Self-reflection and Accountability: Understanding and reflecting on privilege, history, and personal biases allows individuals to become more empathetic and aware. White Americans can reflect on the privileges and responsibilities that come with being part of the dominant culture and seek ways to actively support equality.

Prescription: Self-reflection and accountability are key to building empathy and awareness. By examining their privileges, historical context, and personal biases, individuals can recognize how their experiences may differ from others and the impact of those differences.

For white Americans, reflecting on the advantages and responsibilities of being part of the dominant culture helps understand broader social dynamics. This self-awareness can drive meaningful actions that actively support equality through advocacy, community involvement, or personal growth. Engaging in this reflection fosters a more inclusive perspective, encouraging individuals to help change toward a fairer society.

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Inclusive Policies and Practices: Supporting and advocating for policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion ensures that public institutions and workplaces reflect society’s multicultural reality. This helps create environments where people of all backgrounds feel seen, heard, and valued.

Prescription: Inclusive policies and practices are essential for creating environments that reflect our society’s diversity. By supporting policies that emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion, we ensure that public institutions and workplaces acknowledge and respect the multicultural fabric of our communities.

These policies create spaces where individuals from all backgrounds feel seen, heard, and valued, fostering a sense of belonging and equality. This approach benefits individuals and strengthens the community by promoting fairness and mutual respect in daily interactions and opportunities.

Unfortunately, racism rewards terrible behavior and reinforces divides.

Several significant barriers can make it challenging for white Americans to engage fully in reciprocal assimilation. These include historical, psychological, social, and structural factors that shape perspectives and behaviors.

Here are some of the primary barriers:

Historical Privilege and Systemic Structures

Historically, white Americans have held the dominant position in U.S. society, often creating systems that reflect and uphold their values. This historical dominance can lead to an unconscious belief that there’s little incentive to adapt to other cultures, as societal norms largely reflect their experiences and perspectives. The systems of privilege (like housing, employment, and educational advantages) reinforce these beliefs, making integration feel unnecessary to many.

Fear of Loss of Status or Identity

Some white Americans may feel that multiculturalism threatens their social status, cultural identity, or national identity. This anxiety—sometimes called “status threat”—can lead to resistance to assimilation or adoption of practices seen as “non-traditional.” Research shows that when people perceive a threat to their group’s status, they are more likely to resist change and reject outside influences.

Socialization and Segregation

In many areas, social segregation remains prevalent, leading people to interact within racially homogenous communities primarily. This segregation reduces opportunities for genuine cultural exchange and learning. For many white Americans, limited exposure to other cultures can result in unfamiliarity or discomfort with different customs, values, or perspectives, which then reinforces biases and hinders interest in reciprocal assimilation.

Perception of Assimilation as a One-Way Process

Traditional concepts of assimilation often emphasize that minorities are responsible for adopting the dominant culture’s values, language, and practices. This idea is so deeply embedded that many people may not even recognize the potential benefits of adapting to or integrating other cultural perspectives. This perception can create a sense that assimilation isn’t “for them,” making it harder to see the value of reciprocal cultural exchange.

Political Polarization and Media Influence

Political and media narratives frequently shape attitudes about race and culture, with some portraying diversity initiatives or multiculturalism as divisive or harmful. For example, some media outlets and politicians frame discussions about multiculturalism as an “attack” on traditional American values, which can increase opposition to reciprocal assimilation among white Americans.

Implicit Bias and Ethnocentrism

Many people hold implicit biases that favor their cultural norms and ways of life, often without realizing it. Ethnocentrism, or the tendency to view one’s culture as superior or as the “default,” can unintentionally dismiss other cultural practices and values. This bias can be a significant barrier to meaningful cultural exchange or adaptation.

Lack of Cultural Competency Education

Cultural competency is not widely emphasized in schools in the U.S. When it is, it’s often aimed at preparing minorities for success in the majority culture rather than promoting mutual cultural learning. White Americans may not see cultural adaptation as a valuable or necessary skill without education on the benefits and skills of cross-cultural exchange.

Economic and Class-Based Divides

In some cases, economic challenges and class disparities intersect with race, making it difficult for people across different backgrounds to find common ground. White Americans facing economic hardships may feel a strong sense of resentment toward integration initiatives if they perceive them as ignoring or overlooking their struggles. Economic divides can further exacerbate differences and hinder empathy toward diverse experiences.

Addressing these barriers involves initiatives that promote cultural competence, encourage dialogue, and create opportunities for genuine intercultural exchange. Reducing structural inequalities and promoting inclusive policies can also help bridge divides and foster reciprocal assimilation.

Is there value in encouraging all Americans to assimilate?

Several studies and sociological theories suggest that “reverse assimilation,” or reciprocal cultural integration, benefits individuals and society. Here are a few important studies and theories that support the idea:

1. Intergroup Contact Theory: Gordon Allport’s theory posits that positive interaction between people of different groups reduces prejudice. Studies building on this theory show that increased contact between diverse groups promotes understanding, reduces stereotypes, and leads to more inclusive attitudes. Studies of school desegregation, for instance, demonstrated that when white students integrated into diverse schools, they gained empathy and reduced biases toward other racial groups, which translated into more equitable attitudes in adulthood.

2. Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion: Research by psychologists and sociologists, like Dr. John Berry, suggests that multicultural societies where people from different backgrounds learn about and respect each other tend to have higher social cohesion and psychological well-being. Berry’s research shows that cultures that embrace multiculturalism, allowing everyone to learn from each other, are generally more harmonious and produce more adaptable and resilient individuals.

3. Cognitive and Emotional Benefits of Cultural Flexibility: Studies in psychology indicate that exposure to multiple cultural perspectives improves cognitive flexibility. For example, Dr. Adam Galinsky’s research shows that engaging with diverse perspectives fosters creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. White Americans who engage in multicultural contexts benefit from these cognitive skills, which lead to better adaptability in workplaces and social interactions and more empathy and emotional awareness.

4. Positive Psychological Impact on Identity: Research into identity formation has shown that people who integrate aspects of diverse cultural identities (instead of rejecting them) experience greater psychological well-being. For instance, studies by Dr. Jennifer Neal and Dr. Hector Betancourt highlight that individuals who develop an inclusive, multicultural identity tend to have higher self-esteem, lower anxiety, and a greater sense of belonging. These benefits apply broadly, suggesting that white Americans who embrace multiculturalism may experience similar gains in identity-related resilience and well-being.

5. Community Benefits and Reduced Social Conflict: Sociologists have found that cities and neighborhoods that embrace integration and diversity—where people reciprocally learn from each other’s backgrounds—tend to experience less social conflict. Research by Dr. Robert Putnam, for example, found that diverse communities that emphasize intercultural exchange have higher levels of trust and civic engagement, improving life quality for all residents by reducing social isolation and fostering networks of mutual support.

These studies suggest that when people from dominant groups, such as white Americans, engage in reciprocal assimilation by learning from and integrating other cultural perspectives, it has far-reaching benefits—reducing prejudice, fostering personal and social resilience, and building more cohesive communities.