Assimilation rant ahead. I researched the concept of assimilation for my doctoral dissertation and basically it is an example of bad racism. It was a standard for WHITES to strive for and if you weren't white, don't even think about it. Because it is a concept rooted in superficial arbitrary discrimination, it had lots of negative consequences.  Perhaps we should remember the true villain here and drop discussing and resurrecting bad concepts. Freedom is always a good place to start.