Interesting that you would bring up Europe. They line in MUCH smaller countries and they don't get along with each other very well.
Back to U.S. Yes, there are many cultures here in the US. Some of them very similar to mine and others not quite so. For example, Muslims. I would have a fit if my children wanted to marry into their culture. Mexican, not quite so different, but different enough that it would be very uncomfortable.
A bit interesting that you would consider the Black culture a result of being repressed. I can see it as a result of government intervention, but hardly being repressed (not lately at least).
I believe it is a result of the "you owe me" mentality that has been fostered and grown by our government. It has completely destroyed the black family structure and I believe that that destruction is the single most driving factor in pushing our two cultures apart.
I do believe that they could and would become part of the "melting pot" if left alone by our government. Many other cultures have and our Nation is much better because of it. A great many Black Americans are "melting" as you say, but there is another segment that one group or another keeps fostering an attitude of hate - probably for financial gain.
I'm in 100% agreement on the government issue. But the REASON they were so ripe for picking by the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, is because they WERE repressed. Common man, I mean is it that hard to admit that blacks were treated like dog sh#$ for DECADES after they were freed? Why is it so hard to say that? That is why they want from the government, because they know the pain and torment their ancestors suffered. I'm not saying they should receive financial compensation, but let's at least not deny that it ever happened.
Yes, they, as a people, are going to have to get over it, and move on with their lives, but that is a lot easier to say from where we are sitting.
I have no fear of the future however. In 20 years, I believe that they will be melted. Starting with my generation and now with the current generation of kids, we all grew up with the black culture all around us, and we embraced it. So it won't be so much the black culture melting into the "white" culture, but more of a meeting in the middle. I believe more and more of our kids are growing up colorblind and I believe it will reap great benefits in the future.
A white kid has no shame when he wears his hat backwards and listens to "black music". A black kid has no shame when he wears polo shirts and golfs at a country club. We are making progress.