Educational Media Reviews Online

A short, modest tape, Multi-Culture Diversity covers various events throughout America, from the religious/cultural Mexican-American celebration of La Dia de los Muertos to an African-American rodeo and a Native American celebration, the Pow Wow Trail, to two events in Colorado, a whooping crane festival in Monte Vista and a Scottish Highlands Festival in Estes Park. It's well shot and well-paced, technically a professional video and a good introduction to the subject of these culturally diverse United States. But it doesn't delve any deeper than this surface; it is a introduction in the manner of a television news feature that doesn't dwell longer than 5-8 minutes on each segment. Indeed, it could be (and probably was) intended for a half-hour television spot.

The African-American rodeo should be seen by everyone. So few Americans are aware of the Black presence in the far West, and that there were Black cowboys riding the same range that Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry rode. Except, of course, that these three well-known cowboys never rode a range outside of a Hollywood lot, and that Black cowboys drove herds, roped calves, and were ranch hands during the great growth of the American West. That this rodeo still takes place is inspiring, not only to those of African-American heritage, but to all Americans. It enriches us.

Likewise, the Day of the Dead is explained in an easy manner that should not intimidate young children. In the Mexican-American-Roman Catholic culture of the Southwest, death is considered a part of life, and the dead, on this special day are celebrated and the living are made aware of the presence of death, but not in a threatening way. The scary skeleton masks, the sputtering candles, the many memento mori, are no more than one would see on any Halloween night. The importance of the festival, however, to the Mexican-American community, is emphasized, and that creates cultural awareness in the non-Mexican-American society, which is all to the good.

The Native American Pow Wow piece is vivid, colorful and entertaining. There are videos of various Native American social dances that go more deeply into the topic, but this is a good introduction to the active, rich communities of Native Americans strewn throughout the United States and Canada.

For all but the very young (the recommended age level is Intermediate to Adult), this is a no-frills, immediate experience of some of the different ethnic and racial groups that make up the American mosaic. The only segment that does not quite seem to fit is the whooping crane festival, which has no ethnic/racial slant and is of interest primarily to birdwatchers and environmentalists. Its inclusion, though pleasant enough, is jarring. And the Scottish Highlands Festival, colorful as it is, seems weak up against the African-American rodeo, the Dia de los Muertos celebration, and the Native American dancing. Or, perhaps, it is not so unfamiliar to a reviewer from a biased cultural background that includes Irish and Scots. Those unfamiliar with robustly athletic Scottish Highland Games sports like throwing heavy weights and trees (stripped of their branches, like telephone poles, and weighing 90 to 120 lbs.), might well find it culturally fascinating! (This particular event is called "turning the caber.”)

Recommended for public and school library collections that serve diverse populations or need to make their populations aware of the great range of cultural diversity in the United States. This is a hot topic in education and the workplace today, and institutions are looking for good treatments of cultural diversity, at all levels. This particular video would be most effective with upper elementary and middle school children.