Deculturalization

Deculturalization is the destruction of the culture of a dominated group and its replacement by the [Page 610]culture of the dominating group. This entry uses the example of programs in the United States that were implemented by Anglo-Americans to destroy the cultures of African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Asian American groups. An understanding of deculturalization is important for at least three reasons. First, schools and their curricula have been promoted as appropriate vehicles for deculturalization processes. Second, “education” has been synonymous with deculturalization in the histories of all dominated cultural groups in the United States. Third, because schools are socializing institutions, it is important for educators to recognize deculturalization in order to prevent schools from perpetuating the destruction of student home ...