Homework Links: Ethnic Groups/Multicultural

General Diversity/Multicural Sites

Cool Planet's Wake Up World - Photo stories show 'a day in the life' of young children from Ghana, Brazil, Russia, and India. For all ages. (Oxfam)

Culture Club - Read reviews of books, songs, and films from a variety of countries, enjoy photos from different cultures, listen to teenagers answer questions on food, music, fashion, sports, and popular trends in their countries, and explore other multicultural resources; for students and teachers. (National Capital Language Resource Center)

Diversity in the U.S. - Articles and videos celebrating the diversity of cultures in America today. Middle school and up. (U.S. Department of State)

Embrace Diversity - 'Experience the art, music, poetry, language, customs, holidays, and sports of faraway lands with just a click of your mouse.' For middle school students. (Girls Inc, nonprofit organization)

Ethnic America - An online textbook, reviewing in detail the history of Asian, Irish, and Italian Americans in the United States, including primary sources, immigration chronology (timeline), and images. Other ethnic groups are to be added in the future. High school and up. (Digital History site at University of Houston)

Explaining Diversity - Different groups have different ways of responding to the common concerns of life: finding food and shelter, building relationships, defining ourselves, coming of age, forming communities, traveling from place to place-and many others. This site explores how the forces of environment, history, and creativity shape the varieties of human culture. (Field Museum, Chicago)

Folk Streams video - Independent films and videos depicting a wide range of American folk, traditional, regional and vernacular culture from traditional fiddle music to 'Steppin'. Includes folk life, folkways, folklore and documentary films, with extensive background materials. You can browse films by subject or by region. High school and up. (Non-profit site)

Food & Culture - Using stories from different cultures, this site explores attitudes, practices, and rituals surrounding food; examines the part food plays in defining family roles, rules, and traditions; and shows how food can inspire and strengthen bonds between individuals, communities, and even countries. (PBS; commercial site)

Heritage Resources - Online resources for teachers and students on Black History, Women's History, Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanic Heritage, and American Indian Heritage (Smithsonian). For additional teaching materials, see Heritage Months video ; in each section, go to the 'FEATURES & RESOURCES' links and click on 'Educator Resources' (KQED Public Television, Northern California Public Broadcasting).

Immigrant Experience - Selected links to immigration history websites. (South Plainfield Public Library)

It's International! - An online magazine offering articles by international students on ethnic customs & traditions, food, games, holidays, clothing, and more. (Topics: An Online Magazine for Learners of English)

Multicultural Literature in the United States Today - A collection of articles and stories by American writers from various ethnic backgrounds, writing about their native lands and their experiences as Americans. Includes a list of additional resources for further study; high school and up. (U.S. State Department)

Peace Corps Teens - Learn more about other countries with info on food & recipes, holidays, country trivia & quizzes, plus free music & video downloads.

People & Places video - Articles on a wide variety of subjects, both historical and contemporary, relating to different places and cultures around the world. High school and up. (Smithsonian Magazine)

Race: The Power of an Illusion - An interactive exploration of the question 'Is race real?' with quick facts, timeline, quizzes, and other activities (PBS; commercial site). See also Understanding Race ; includes a separate page for kids aged 10 - 13 (American Anthropological Association).

Voice of the Shuttle - A vast assortment of links to information on ethnic and racial diversity, and on individual ethnic/racial groups. High school and up. (University of California.)

We the People - A series of statistical reports on population, family, education, and economic status for [LINKS OPEN PDF DOCUMENTS]: Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians & Alaska Natives, Arab Americans, Multiracial Americans, women & men, and the aging, plus brief overviews on the foreign born, the disabled, and children, and other related special reports. We the People reports were compiled from the 2000 census. See also Race, Ethnic, or Ancestry Group Fact Sheets. High school and up. (US Census Bureau)

World Cultures - Brief descriptions of dozens of cultures, past and present, from around the globe. Each entry includes a photo of a related artifact; click on the photo for a larger picture and a description of the object. (British Museum)

African & African-American

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY ONLINE (Facts on File) Provides expansive and in-depth information on the people, events, and topics important to the study of African-American history. To access African-American History Online, go to our DATABASE LOGIN PAGE and log in to FACTS ON FILE. If you're using African-American History Online on your home computer, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.

Africa: One Continent, Many Worlds [UPDATED LINK!] [ARCHIVED SITE] - Explores 'the vitality and significance of African peoples, their communities through out the world, and the natural riches of the African Continent.' Includes general African facts, as well as specific sections on Dakar, Cameroon, Benin, the Bakongo people, African Americans, and more. (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County)

African American History Links - Selected links to African American history websites. (South Plainfield Public Library)

African American World - A guide to African American history, art, culture and society. Includes a timeline, and a 'Reference Room' offering 350 articles from Encyclopedia Britannica, a list of recommended books and films, and more. (PBS.)

African Arts Playtime - An assortment of fun activities related to African arts. Use the menu on the right to choose Coloring pages, interactive Seek & Find games, or Music. Age level varies.

African Diaspora Stories: I've Known Rivers - Oral history narratives (audio recordings) by people of African descent, describing their experiences moving to and living in new surroundings and cultures. High school and up. (Museum of the African Diaspora)

African Voices audio - 'Examines the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa's peoples and cultures over time in the realms of family, work, community, and the natural environment.' High school and up. (Smithsonian)

Afro-Americ@: Kids Zone - Learn about Africa while having fun with myths & stories, games & quizzes, and more. Elementary and middle school students. (Commercial site, Afro.com)

Basic Black [UPDATED LINK!] audio video - Online audio and video podcasts of a weekly television series reflecting on the concerns and culture of African Americans through short documentaries, performances and one-on-one conversations (WGBH). The Say Brother video archive offers a collection of online video clips from the earlier years of the show, 1968-1982 (WGBH). American Black Journal first went on the air in 1968 during a time of social and racial turmoil. The archived video programs represent a wide variety of African-American viewpoints on issues ranging from labor unrest in the automobile industry, to the urban civil disturbances in Detroit and across the nation riots of 1967, the emergence of outspoken African American political leaders, and the explosion of Motown music; includes interviews, discussions, features, and artistic performances. You can browse by theme or guest (Detroit Public Television and Michigan State University).

Black Culture & History - A guide to websites covering all areas of black history and culture, including Africa, African Diaspora, Arts & Culture, Education, Health & Medicine, History, Religion, Sports, Women, and more. High school and up. (University of North Carolina)

Black History Month Resources - Biographies, literature, timeline, and more. (Gale Publishing)

Black Leadership - Interviews with dozens of leaders from the black community, exploring the early influences on their lives, along with 'issues of black leadership and the transformational role of the civil rights movement in America.' (University of Virginia)

Famous Firsts by African Americans - Lists dozens of firsts, such as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Nobel Prize winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, film director, major league baseball player, and many more. Links to additional information included on most listings. (Commercial site: Infoplease / Pearson Education)

Arab, Arab-American & Muslim

Al-Bab: An Open Door to the Arab World - Articles, blog, and links relating to all aspects of the Arab world, as well as individual Arab countries. (Commercial site: British-Yemeni Society; content by British journalist/author Brian Whitaker)

Islamic Studies - Dozens of links on Islamic religion, history, and culture. High school and up. (University of Georgia)

Muslim Heritage - Explores 1000 years of Muslim history, focusing particularly on the contribution of Muslim culture to present day science, technology, and civilization. High school and up. (Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation, UK)

Muslims video - This site covers Islamic belief, law and practice, Islam and the West, and women and Islam. It also offers portraits of ordinary Muslims living in different countries, and interviews with activists and academics, as well as links for further information. High school and up. (PBS Frontline)

Muslim Veils - Illustrations and descriptions of the different types of veils worn by Muslim women, including the hijab, burka, chador, and others. (BBC)

Science and Islam - 'The spread of Islam stimulated the development of a wide range of science and technology founded upon a legacy from the ancient world.' This site explores the achievements of Islamic science. (Museum of History of Science, University of Oxford, UK)

Asian & Asian-American

Asia Source - Information on Asian arts & culture, business & economics, society & history, policy & government; also information on holidays, language, and chronologies, plus a separate Resources for Students new page; high school and up. There is also a separate page of Teaching Resources new and, for younger students, an Asia for Kids new page featuring games, stories, languages, and arts. (Asia Society)

Asian Nation - Asian-American culture, history, and current issues. 'You can almost think of Asian-Nation as an online version of 'Asian Americans 101'.' High school and up. (By C.N. Le, professor of Sociology at University of Massachusetts)

China the Beautiful - Celebrates 'all that is beautiful and glorious in the Chinese culture,' including stories, arts, history, poetry, language, calligraphy, and paintings. High school and up. (Personal site, by Ming L. Pei)

Pakistan: Arts & Culture video - Explores the nation, the land, the people, the arts, and the culture & daily life of Pakistan. High school and up. (Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts)

Christian

Catholic Encyclopedia - Online edition of the original Catholic Encyclopedia (ca. 1910), with articles arranged A to Z; also searchable by keyword. (Commercial site)

Christian Classics Ethereal Library - An extensive library of 'Christian Classics' currently in the public domain, including Bibles and Commentaries, Catechisms, Liturgies, Fiction, History, Hymns and Hymnology, Sermons, and Reference works. You can search by keyword(s) or browse by author, title, or subject. Texts are available in a variety of digital formats. High school and up. (Calvin College; includes some ads)

Disabled

Blindness FAQ - Answers to common questions about blindness, including 'What is Braille?' 'What causes blindness?' 'How does it feel to be blind?' and 'Should I help a blind person to cross the street?' as well as explaining how blind people perform everyday tasks such as shopping and cooking. All ages (National Federation of the Blind). To learn more about the Braille code, see The Braille Bug new ; for grades 3 through 6 (American Foundation for the Blind).

Deafness: World Around You video - Stories, photos, videos and more, about deaf life and culture (Gallaudet University).

Famous People with Disabilities - About 2 dozen links; for all ages (University of Wisconsin). The Easter Seals website includes a list of books about people with disabilities for elementary & middle school students.

Friends with disabilities - Thirteen helpful hints on how to treat a person with a disability. See also Disability Etiquette. (Easter Seals)

Myths and Facts About People with Disabilities - Corrects common misinformation and misunderstandings about what it's like to live with a disability (Easter Seals)

Kids' Quest - Answers to common questions about kids with disabilities. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

Siblings of Persons with Disabilities - Links to information and support for brothers and sisters of people with disabilities. (University of Wisconsin)

Museum of Disability History - Online exhibits 'dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities.' Includes illustrated presentations on the history of disability in Media, in Medicine, and in Society; with timelines. High school and up. (People Inc. & the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation)

European-Americans

Italian Americans - A timeline which 'strives to capture the richness of the Italian American experience and to highlight the many valuable contributions this special group has made to the United States.' (National Italian American Foundation)

German Americans [UPDATED LINK!] - An online booklet reviewing the immigration of Germans to America and exploring German-American identity (University of Wisconsin). See also Germans in America (Exil-Club).

Polish Americans - Annotated links to selected websites about Polish Americans. For more links about Polish history & culture, see Poland in the Classroom. (State University of New York)

Hispanic-American & Latino

Jewish

Jewish Encyclopedia - 'The complete contents of the 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia... over 15,000 articles and illustrations.' Originally published between 1901-1906, so it does not cover a significant portion of modern Jewish History - e.g., the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, etc. (Commercial site)

Jewish Virtual Library - A well-organized online library of articles covering Jewish history, politics, religion, biography and more. (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise)

My Jewish Learning - A guide to Jewish history, culture, belief, practice, and holidays (Non-profit site).

Religion - General / Other

Atheism: Investigating Atheism - Places current debates on atheism in their historical context, and offers a range of perspectives (from all sides) on the chief issues. High school and up. (University of Cambridge, UK)

Hinduism for Schools - Explains the beliefs and practices of Hindus; separate sections for elementary and secondary school students. (Vivekananda Centre of London). See also Hinduism 101 new (Hindu American Foundation).

Religion Facts - Extensive information about the Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Ancient Chinese Religion, Christianity, Greek Religion, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Mormonism (LDS), Scientology, Sikhism, Taoism, and Wicca. The site's author is not identified, but most of the articles include reference notes with links to sources. Site may be slow to load and navigate. (Personal / commercial site)

Religions of the World - Explores the history and beliefs of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, and Hinduism; high school and up. (Minnesota State University)

Religions of the World Guide - Explores 16 world religions, including Ba'hai, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Rastafari, Paganism, Taoism, Shinto, and Sikhism, as well as atheism; high school and up (BBC).

Shinto in Brief - A short overview of the history, beliefs, and practices of Japan's indigenous Shinto religion. (International Shinto Foundation)

Women

AMERICAN WOMEN'S HISTORY ONLINE (Facts on File) Covers the important people, events, legislation, and issues relevant to the study of women's history in the United States. To access American Women's History Online, go to our DATABASE LOGIN PAGE and log in to FACTS ON FILE. If you're using American Women's History Online on your home computer, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.