Answer:
AI-generated answer
In the fourth paragraph of Marilyn Lee McConnell's writing, it is mentioned that Benjamin Lee and his family used several strategies to assimilate. These strategies include:
1. They stopped speaking Chinese: This means that Benjamin Lee and his family deliberately chose not to speak their native language, Chinese. By doing so, they likely aimed to adopt the language of the dominant culture, English, in order to blend in and become more accepted within the larger society.
2. They stopped talking about their heritage: Benjamin Lee and his family decided not to discuss or openly acknowledge their Chinese heritage. This could mean that they avoided talking about their cultural traditions, customs, or family history that reflected their Chinese roots. By suppressing discussions about their heritage, they may have hoped to distance themselves from their immigrant background and integrate more seamlessly into the mainstream culture.
3. Benjamin did not tell his siblings that he had spent time in China: This indicates that Benjamin Lee chose not to disclose to his siblings that he had lived or spent time in China. By keeping this information hidden, he might have aimed to further erase any connections to his Chinese roots and assimilate fully into the American culture. This strategy demonstrates a deliberate effort to disconnect from their immigrant past and establish a new identity within their adopted country.
Overall, these strategies employed by Benjamin Lee and his family, such as not speaking Chinese, avoiding discussions about their heritage, and withholding information about their time in China, reveal their attempts to assimilate into the dominant American culture and distance themselves from their immigrant background.