When a member of an ethnic minority group acquires the behavior patterns, lifestyles, values, and language of the mainstream culture we say that he or she has become culturally assimilated. Since the dominant group controls most of the social, economic, and political institutions in a society, members of ethnic minority groups must acquire its cultural traits to move up the social and economic ladder. When studying this concept, it is important to learn that although non-White ethnic minorities may become totally assimilated culturally, they will still be victims of discrimination and racism because of their different physical characteristics. A widespread myth is that Mexican Americans and Afro-Americans experience discrimination because they often have meager educations and live in ghettos. Even though it is true that many Blacks and Mexican Americans are members of the lower socioeconomic classes, and that all lower-class individuals are treated differently than middle-and upper-class people, it is also true that Blacks and Chicanos with high educations and incomes frequently experience discrimination because of their color. Since American racism is based largely on skin color, no degree of cultural assimilation eliminates it. Some discussion of forced assimilation and cultural genocide should take place when students study cultural assimilation. Assimilation often occurs when a minority group "voluntarily" acquires the behavior patterns and lifestyles of dominant group to attain social mobility and occupational success. I use the word voluntarily here somewhat reluctantly because without some degree of cultural assimilation, a group that is very different culturally may not be able to survive in a particular culture. However, in the history of the United States, some forms of cultural assimilation that took place were totally nonvoluntary and might be called forced assimilation because the cultures of certain groups were deliberately destroyed (cultural genocide). These groups were forced to acquire the language, lifestyles, and values of the dominant culture. Individuals and groups who refused to accept the dominant culture were sometimes the victims of severe punishments, such as death. The cultures of African groups were deliberately destroyed by the slave masters. This cultural destruction began on the slave ships. It seems that systematic and deliberate attempts were made to destroy Indian cultures. These efforts were highly successful since many of the cultural elements of these groups now exist only in the pages of history, and sometimes not even there since they were often destroyed before they could be recorded.