Over 200 years ago, in 1775, only 300,000 people lived in Massachusetts and most of those people were of English descent. Throughout the 1800's and until 1920 many people from many countries and continents came to America and to Massachusetts. There are many reasons people came to America from other countries and the result is a nation filled with a mixture of people with different backgrounds.
In 1975, two out of three people in Massachusetts were at least third generation Americans which means that their parents and their grandparents were born in the United States.
Massachusetts is like the baked beanpot. The beanpot, which pictures different individual beans, creates a flavorful whole. Massachusetts is filled with many people who have come from everywhere including Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Canada, and Australia and who are of all different colors, backgrounds, and religions. The people continue to carry on the traditions and beliefs of their heritage, yet live together, play together, and work together to create an exciting and interesting Massachusetts.
There are several ethnic celebrations in Massachusetts each year which show us that we can all be proud of our own backgrounds and that we can share them with others.