February is Black History Month.

Go to the many RaceBridges units and short videos that
celebrate the many inspiring themes of African American Heritage.
Download these units including the new streamlined
Lesson for Black History Month: Black American Arts.

Click here for more information

The importance of remembering our own past and the past of our people.

BEARING WITNESS TO THE
JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Every year the Japanese American communities across the US commemorate a fateful and shocking event in their history.  They remember the 19th February 1942 when President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066.  This led to the forced incarceration of over 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II.  This shameful uprooting, relocation to prison camps and incarceration of Japanese American citizens is still remembered and raises many questions and lessons for all of us to ponder.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Are there any Muslim storytellers out there ?
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The Stories of Storyteller Arif Choudhury

In a recent magazine article, storyteller Arif Choudhury wrote :
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“Are there any other Mulsim storytellers out there ? We should start a club with funny hats and monogrammed shirts.  All kidding aside, since 9/11, people have been curious about Muslims.

As an American-born Muslim of Bangladeshi descent living in Chicago’s predominantly Caucasian northern suburbs, I am asked lots of questions. What do Muslims believe ?  What are their traditions and customs?

Do Muslims tell stories ?”  Read the rest of this entry »

By Storyteller Jim May

(Please be patient as the video may take a few moments to load.)

Use this video and story in your classroom with the free
Story Short Lesson Plan from our
sister site, RaceBridgesforSchools.com.

For many Americans, December is all about Christmas: a major Christian holiday and the biggest secular event of the year.  The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights is also celebrated in December.
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But there’s a lot more going on in the last month of the year—and for at least two groups of Americans.  December is the time to celebrate ethnic pride.  Read the rest of this entry »

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I Deserve To Be Here

A short video by Storyteller Emily Hooper Lansana

THEME:  Crossing Color Lines to Reach For Your Best

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Emily Hooper Lansana’s story tells us about her educational journey growing up in a house where her parents always wanted her to have access to the best.  Growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, she learned a lot about the ways that kids of different races were separated, and separated themselves, at school.    Read the rest of this entry »

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Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 – October 15
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RaceBridges celebrates with pride the contributions, resilience and beauty of the many and varied Latino cultures that are part of the fabric of America.

We recommend . . ..

What’s a Mexican?

A short video by Storyteller Olga Loya

THEME:  The search for identity is a personal one. No one can
tell you who you are. When we accept all aspects of ourselves,
we feel more comfortable in our own skins as well as in the world.

Read the rest of this entry »

September 11th marks the 10th Anniversary of the terrible terrorist attacks on US soil.

Remembrance will happen in many ways. Healing from those events still continues. PBS Newshour is presenting a special report called America Remembers 9/11 and a 9/11 Video Quilt asking diverse Americans on what has changed since 9/11.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/

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We invite you to reflect on the following short RaceBridges videos.

From a Moslem American view, and from the account of a woman caught up in the hostility towards a mosque that followed 9/11. These short stories are told by professional storytellers. They provide perspectives of “another view”. They are food for thought and a way to pass on the challenge to search beyond stereotypes for our common humanity.
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Three Stories by Storyteller Arif Choudhury:

• Where Are You From ?
• Seeing the Other
• Just Not Muslim Enough

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A Story by Storyteller Susan O’Halloran:

• The Other 9/11 Story

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During August 2011 RaceBridges salutes the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument on the Mall in Washington DC on August 28.  www.dedicatethedream.org.

In the spirit of Dr. King we recommend our video short story:

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FROM MOON COOKIES TO MARTIN AND ME

by professional storyteller Lynn Ford

Theme: Working for peace and justice across faith and racial backgrounds

Approximately  9 minutes long
Read the rest of this entry »

In honor of America’s Independence Day, RaceBridges presents a special Fourth of July showcase, featuring over 60 original stories from Americans of diverse backgrounds, faiths and colors. We invite you to celebrate the 4th of July with these rarely told short stories.
They are about the contributions and the struggles, the successes and hopes in the search of the amazing identity that is America.

On July 4, 1776, America broke free from England with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In it, Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

87 years later in the midst of a bloody Civil War and the intractable battle over slavery, Lincoln recalled the nation’s Independence Day virtues in the Gettysburg Address. “Our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Each year, the Fourth of July gives us all a wonderful chance to celebrate America’s deeply prized values—liberty, freedom and equality. We mark the occasion with picnics, parades and BBQs, and we express our patriotism with flags and songs.

Amid the fanfare and fireworks, however, we don’t always have the opportunity to reflect more deeply on the ideals on which our nation was founded. We don’t often have the chance to consider our progress toward equality for all men and women, and to explore the diversity that is the hallmark of the American identity.

Lucky for us: artists have been doing just that for centuries. From Thoreau to Springsteen, writers, artists and storytellers have shared their perspectives on America’s promise and inspired their countrymen to keep working toward the attainment of a truly free country for all. With that in mind, we’ve created this special Fourth of July video showcase to celebrate America’s independence, its promise of equality for all, and the beauty and challenge of diversity.

View the 4th of July Video Showcase