Orlando Patterson, professor of Sociology, stated in an article in yesterday's New York Times that the recent emphasis on ethnic group solidarity obscures the ideal of constitutional equality and should be replaced by individual assimilation into the "common human heritage."
The emphasis on ethnicity hurts efforts to equalize opportunity for individuals, and often results in increased exploitation of the ethnic groups themselves, Patterson said yesterday.
Patterson added that there are fascist tendencies in movements toward ethnic pluralism. "Instead of saying we're all equal," he said, "eventually feelings of group superiority develop."
Martin L. Kilson, Jr., professor of Government, said yesterday he agreed with Patterson that the ethnic revival has been "detrimental to efforts to cosmopolize the American identity."
Opponents of Patterson's theories refused to comment yesterday.
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