Since the 1960s, we have seen the failure of the melting pot ideology. This ideology suggested that different historical, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds could be subordinated to a larger ideology or social amalgam which is America. This concept obviously did not work, because paradoxically America encourages a politics of contestation.

Summary

The quote highlights how the traditional notion of the "melting pot" ideology has failed since the 1960s. The melting pot ideology propagated the idea that individuals from diverse backgrounds could blend together into a singular American identity. However, this concept has proven ineffective, as America actually fosters a culture of contestation and encourages individuals to assert their unique histories, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In other words, the quote suggests that instead of assimilating into a homogeneous whole, America values and embraces the differences and diversity among its people.

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