Voices: Children Speak Out About Diversity

The richness of America lies in our wealth of differences. We are the world's "most diverse democracy," and yet, since before anyone can remember, we've been uneasy with our abundance. Why is our unique human richness, this great national strength, also a source of divisiveness and despair, as demeaning as it should be ennobling?

In this video series you will hear the voices of children, young people across America, exploring the diversity dilemma with candor and passion.

Honest and unadulterated stories from youth journalists across the country provide a fresh inside-look at issues that are on children's minds...issues that make up their lives. Issues such as religion, stereotyping, sexuality, and racism are part of this series that will help to generate classroom discussion in two core subject areas of social studies and journalism with special emphasis on media literacy and diversity.

Our diversity is a story of paradoxes, and between the lines are as many "reasons" for our dilemma as there are citizens of these great United States. These videos feature teens responding to questions like: What is diversity, anyway? Why do we have so many problems with it? What's good about it? What would America be like without it? Their responses do not represent everyone's views, nor do they suggest definitive "answers" to our national riddle. Instead, each one invites us into his or her own, unique experience, sharing insights, and learning from one another as they do. If we listen carefully, these voices might just help us better understand one another.

Click here for Teacher's Guide

Rights granted with the purchase of DVD include: a) life of media audiovisual use, b) public performance, c) campus or building closed circuit and digital/video-on-demand transmission.

Ideal for grades 9 -12