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Introduction

The first word that comes to the mind of many when they think of the student body at Mt. Diablo is diversity. Our school is home to students whose families come from all over the world. Our students bring to school a variety of backgrounds and personal and family experiences that shape their interactions with others in profound ways. Many students walk the halls of MDHS struggling to balance the demands of blending into the culture of our school, becoming part of the culture of America, and remaining true to their own cultural roots. And, while most people would say the multiculturalism or our school is our greatest strength, it is also the source of many of our most pressing needs. 

The diverse culture of MDHS forms a microcosm for the problems with multiculturalism in the United States. America has a tradition of welcoming the world to its shores spelled out clearly in the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, the sonnet The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus,

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

However, upon arrival on America's shores, what happens to the stories, languages, and culture brought over from the homeland? And, how does one balance the idea of being American with the desire and need to hold those cultural traditions? At what point does being Asian American or Mexican American or African American give way to being simply American? Should this even be our goal?

It is these essential issues we want you to explore deeply through this project.

Your Task

Maintain project blog that connects to streaming video podcast - weekly 2 minute edited video, written reflections in blog. 

     Each Week: Script, Shoot, Edit, Post, Blog

     Also on Blog: Photography, Poetry, Art, Music (Could be original and links to other's work)

Call to Action ---> Peer Education

     Freshman Houses, Hour long lessons/presentations/discussions/presentation of findings

Paper

     Driving Question: How do we balance our unique cultural tapestries with our desire to unify as Americans?

     Reader (MLK writings and race)