Preserving heritage and displaying identities in the US

October 23, 2024

Despite the view that America is a melting pot that favors some form of assimilation of newcomers there is a fairly wide consensus in the United States that it is important to transmit customs and traditions to our children according to a survey was conducted by the firm Leger USA for the Metropolis Institute. That said, in practice that idea may give rise to varying meanings. For example while most Americans agree that to prevent being a victim of discrimination it is best for people to stop wearing religious symbols on the street (kippas, hijabs or crosses), some one in six think it is a good idea and over one in five don’t know. Hence Americans support for promotion of one’s heritage is tempered somewhat by concern with such public display being a possible source of discrimination. The survey was conducted over the period September 27-29, 2024 with a sample of 1006 Americans. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey for comparison purposes. A probability sample of 1612 respondents would have a margin of error of ±3.5%, 19 times out of 20.