What Is Seen Around Us?

“I grew up hearing, seeing, and almost believing that America was white- albeit with a little black tinge here and there- and that white was best” (487, Yuh Ji-Yeon, “Let’s Tell the Stories of All America’s Cultures”) Indeed, a very prolific view of the past was that only the Caucasians, the European descendants, did anything of note and were of true Americans. This myth has been forever shattered. America is multicultural; yet, education still reflected a highly “Euro centric” curriculum. The accomplishments of other ethnicities/groups towards American and Western culture were disregarded; but, with true multiculturalism, the truth is being made known. “….they changed America too” (488, Yuh Ji-Yeon, “Let’s Tell the Stories of All America’s Cultures”). Thus, multiculturalism has led to the revision of this view, especially in education. Students are now taught that the numbers of their math come from Arabia, that America was based on the Iroquois Federation system, and that the Chinese invented the fireworks that entertain them so. Now, it is known that Frederick Douglas was influential in leading to the Civil War and that the Mexicans originally settled and converted the arid lands of Texas-California. With the acknowledgment of these things in our education system, we are able to witness the truth of the world and the reality of America. With multicultural education- an intrinsic approach to education and curriculum construction that acknowledges and respects the contributions which the various racial/ethnic groups have made to society, and incorporates these contributions in an overall program of instruction which meets the needs of an ever-changing society and is sensitive to the personal and social development of all persons concerned- (2, Caleb Rosado, “What Makes A School Multicultural”) all Americans (especially the future adults) are able to distinguish that there is value for all of them (at least on the ethnic level). This further lessens any hostile intent of persons to other kinds of persons in the same population.