Black History Month: Jump Into the Melting Pot
Make Time to Really Get to Know Your Neighbors
The United States is often referred to as a "melting pot" -- a place where people of many different cultures and beliefs live together. Many contend that because of this mix of people, our country is more interesting than it would be if everyone were the same. Some think otherwise.
But do most Americans know enough about the different cultures and beliefs of their co-workers and neighbors to ascertain if this is true or not?
Cultural Celebrations Absent of Other Cultures
Having attended many Black History Month programs, I have observed that most of them were full of other African Americans. I find these celebrations to be enjoyable and educational. However, it seems to me that the programs would also benefit other cultures, other ethnicities.
And, I think it would be enlightening to know more about their history and culture.
Attend Celebrations of Other Cultures
The opportunity is certainly there. We celebrate Black History Month this month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, Hispanic Heritage Month in September and American Indian Heritage Month in November. That is just to name a few. If we look around us, there are many opportunities to learn more about the many peoples that comprise our America.
Carter G. Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History.” He founded Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month. His message was that Blacks should be proud of their heritage and that other Americans should also understand it.
Taking Dr. Woodson’s assertion a step further, perhaps all Americans should be proud of their heritage and other Americans should also understand it. This would likely benefit race relations.
Explore Other Cultures Online
In addition to attending gatherings, there are many wonderful books and websites that present the opportunity to explore different cultures. Many of the websites offer not only news and information but also interactive opportunities:
Asian Community Online Network– Brings together Asian American and Pacific Islander non-profit organizations and concerned individuals to share news and information about the community.
BlackAmericaWeb.com– An interactive, timely and credible source for news and information covering aspects of daily African American life, featuring a wide array of viewpoints and perspectives.
Black Voices–America Online source for issues facing the African American community. News from the world of sports, entertainment, health and family.
CodeTalk—Federal, interagency, Native American Web site designed specifically to deliver electronic information from government agencies and other organizations to Native American communities.
HispanicOnline.com— An interactive, timely and credible source for news and information covering Hispanic issues.
Latino USA– Provides diverse audiences with multiple perspectives on issues affecting Latinos while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
SisterPlay.com—The melting pot of the worldwide web. The Race Relation section features a collection of the best ethnic websites on the web. The discussion board is great avenue for getting to know one's neighbors.
posted by YouthPlay Staff @ 9:41 PM
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