ARAB AMERICANS
M H A
Starting in the late 19th century, Syrians first left Ottoman-ruled Mt. Lebanon to make their fortune in the New World. A second group of Arab immigrants - educated professionals from such countries as Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan - arrived after World War II. Dedicated to the cause of Arab nationalism, they sparked a resurgence of ethnic pride among the descendants of the first immigrants, who soon came to share the concern for tensions mounting in the Middle East. Many Arab Americans today feel a sense of responsibility toward their embattled ancestral homelands. 30 mins / 1993

BEHIND THE MASK
E
Using artwork created by children and a script based on their perceptions of the world around them, this imaginative, energetic film is a simple exploration of people and the similarities that unite us all. Designed with children in the early elementary grades, the film develops an understanding of the manifestations of prejudice and teaches an appreciation of difference. 8 mins / 1986

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS: THE HMONG SHAMAN IN AMERICA
C A
Many of the more than 60,000 Hmong refugees who have been transplanted from agrarian mountain villages in northern Laos to the United States, have resettled in high-rise tenements in Chicago and other cities throughout the United States. With them they bring their ancient shamanic rituals and ceremonies. This documentary captures a rare and dramatic look at the Hmong shaman whose ancient rituals (performed for destroying evil spirits and healing the sick) are juxtaposed against the modern lifestyles of urban America. Shamanic practice is also compared with similar Native American traditions. 28 mins / 1986

COMMON THREADS: STORIES FROM THE QUILT
H C A P
In less than a decade, the number of Americans with AIDS has risen from five to 100,000 and more than 59,000 people have died of the disease. In response to this tragic loss, the NAMES project in San Francisco established the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1987 to commemorate the lives lost to AIDS. The quilt is a starting point for COMMON THREADS, a powerful documentary feature focusing on five individuals who died of AIDS--including an IV drug user, a former Olympic decathlon star and a boy with hemophilia whose stories reflect the diversity and common tragedy of those who have died of AIDS. Through interviews, photographs, home movies and other remembrances, the film celebrates their unique personalities and achievements, interweaving these personal histories with an objective, yet pointed chronology of the epidemic’s development. 80 mins / 1990

CULTURE
H C A
Using a sociological perspective, this program defines the concept of culture and explains that various cultural practices and beliefs occur within historical and environmental contexts. The video portrays cultural diversity in the U.S., showing that different subcultures and cultural expressions address human needs. 30 mins / 1991

ESKIMOS: A CHANGING CULTURE
M
Despite many technological and material changes, the resources of modern Cup'ik Eskimos are the same as their ancestors, and they still depend on ancient knowledge that helps them adapt to their environment. They are subsistence hunters and fishers, living on geese, clams, seals, and reindeer. Much of their food and clothing still comes directly from nature. Even international groups that try to control the killing of whales, seals and walrus recognize that subsistence living Eskimos must retain their traditional ocean rights in order to survive. Viewers from an industrial society will be challenged to imagine procuring their own food every day, and depending directly on skills to navigate through nature. A useful film for junior high audiences. 32 mins / 1992

FACING THE FACADE
H C A P
This provocative documentary examines the experience of black students on predominantly white college campuses and how they cope with feelings of alienation, frustration, and discrimination. Colleges throughout the U.S. today face racial unrest among their students and an increase in racist incidents. FACING THE FACADE interviews eight young black men and women enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington. Although these students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, they all speak frankly--out of a sense of disappointment, sometimes bitterly, but often with a sense of humor about their ‘minority’ status on campus, the persistence of racist attitudes among fellow students and even some instructors, as well as other controversial issues such as racial separatism, integration, black studies programs, sexism, and prejudices within their own community based on language, behavior, and dress styles. The film will stimulate wider discussion among both white and black on the topic of racial awareness and sensitivity on campuses. 55 mins / 1994

FILIPINO AMERICANS: DISCOVERING THEIR PAST FOR THE FUTURE
H C A P
What does the average American know about Filipinos who’ve been in this country for more than 400 years? This is a story that has never been told. It’s rich United States history, says Fred Cordova, historian. This is the first in-depth documentary about the oldest and one of the largest Asian American ethnic groups in the U.S. From the California coast in 1587 and Louisiana bayous in 1763, unsung Filipino American men and women in universities, Hawaiian plantations, migrant farms, Alaskan fish canneries, and the U.S. Armed Forces have contributed to the American way of life. With interviews and photos, this story is told. 54 mins / 1994

THE FIRST IMPACT

Cooke's personal record of his own experience in coming to America. /

FOR ANGELA
M A
FOR ANGELA is a story about a racial assault that could have been ruinous, but instead it was empowering. Rhonda Gordon (played by Tina Keeper) and her daughter Angela (played by Tiffany Peters) didn't want a confrontation, they didn't want a fight, but they did want their dignity. A bus ride changed their lives, but in a way no one could have foreseen. Rhonda’s courageous stand against ignorance and prejudice is "for Angela." 22 mins / 1993

GENDER: THE ENDURING PARADOX
C A P
One of the greatest mysteries of life is the "tense harmony" between males and females. This wide-ranging documentary, produced by the Smithsonian, outlines the biological, social, and cultural factors that influence gender roles. Using historical footage, interviews with scientists and artists, and cross-cultural data, GENDER approaches some of the great human questions about gender. For instance, why does each sex seem to think the other is more powerful? Is the trauma of fighting a war (a traditional male role) comparable to a woman's trauma of giving birth? A diversity of perspectives makes this film especially enlightening. 58 mins / 1991

GERMAN AMERICANS
M H A
German Americans were one of the earliest groups of immigrants to America. Looking to escape war, poverty, and religious persecution many settled in Virginia and New York as early as the 1600s. Skilled farmers, weavers, carpenters and clockmakers, they fought for their new homeland in the Revolutionary War, opposed slavery and fought for the Union in the Civil War. During World Wars I and II, German Americans faced much hysteria from other Americans, but by 1945, 560,000 German refugees had arrived in the U.S. to escape persecution, making them the second largest immigrant group in America today. /

GREEK AMERICANS
M H A
During the nineteenth century, large numbers of Greeks began to immigrate to the United States to overcome economic hardship or escape mandatory military service. Though many were raised as farmers, new arrivals tended to gather in large cities where industry jobs were available. Greek Americans formed tightly-knit communities in which the Greek Orthodox Church played an important role in maintaining their religious, social and cultural identity. Greek Americans have made significant contributions to American society, particularly in the areas of politics, architecture and theater, and have shown tremendous economic success, finding ways to begin anew and thrive in a different culture. Part of a compelling series that celebrates the heritage of different cultural groups in North America. 30 mins / 1993

IRISH AMERICANS
M H A
Irish Americans began immigrating to America in the early 1800s. Primarily Catholics, they were not allowed to own land in Ireland without first converting to Protestantism. A second wave of immigrants came to North America when Ireland was experiencing a great potato famine. During the Civil War, many Irish American soldiers were decorated for their service, and by the late 1800s Irish Americans had become a part of mainstream America, advancing both economically and politically. The ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland has provided a source of solidarity among Irish Americans and annual St. Patrick's Day parades bring Irish Americans together. /

ITALIAN AMERICANS
M H A
In 1820, America accepted the first Italian immigrants, many of whom settled in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and California. Like other immigrant groups, Italian Americans faced many obstacles, and soon created tightly knit neighborhoods called "Little Italy" where Catholicism still plays a significant role. Italian Americans have made important contributions in both American industry and culture, and today they make up 6% of the U.S. population, having become a vital piece of the American tapestry while maintaining their cultural heritage.

LIFE IN THE AMAZON
E M A
The Huni Kui live deep in the Amazonian rain forest in harmony with their environment. They are a free society who follow the rhythms of the seasons, the rain, the river, the feasts, and the farming. Through the eyes of a young boy, we meet the South American tribe that seems to be untouched by modern society. 24 mins / 1994

LIGHT IN DARK: UNDERSTANDING BLINDNESS
KIT, E M
Here's a binder full of information to help seeing people imagine the lives of the visually impaired. Prepared by the Indiana School for the Blind with a grant from the Indiana Humanities Council, this booklet contains a history of the School for the Blind, information about eye physiology, lessons on Braille, a bibliography, handouts, activities, and even a McDonald's menu in Braille. / 1997

MULTICULTURAL PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA SERIES
M H A
This compelling series celebrates the heritage of fifteen different cultural groups, tracing the history of their emigration to North America, their unique traditions and their significant contributions. Viewers take a special look inside a family from each culture, meeting three generations who share their memories of their country of origin, their motivations for journeying to North America, the importance of cultural identity, how it is maintained and how it changes. Interviews with leading historians examine the impact of each ethnic group on the growth of the U.S. and Canada and the effects of contemporary immigration policies. African Americans The Amish Arab Americans Central Americans Chinese Americans German Americans Greek Americans Irish Americans Italian Americans Japanese Americans Jewish Americans Korean Americans Mexican Americans Polish Americans Puerto Rican Americans 30 mins / 1993

NOT IN OUR TOWN
E M H C A P
NOT IN OUR TOWN is the story of how the residents of Billings, Montana dealt with gross displays of racism. In 1992, hate groups plastered slurs on the home of a Native American woman and hurled bricks through the window of a Jewish boy's bedroom. These acts might have been ignored. But smart activists mobilized the painters union to paint over the vandalism. "We can erase the damaging words on the house," said one painter, "but how do you erase a child's memory?" The solidarity the residents showed--and the risk they took in supporting the victims--is genuinely inspiring. One of many pearls of wisdom uttered by common people in this film include the idea that the displays of support themselves will not resolve racism, but the daily reinforcement that racist behavior is unacceptable, will. Teacher's guide available. 30 mins / 1994

POLISH AMERICANS
M H A
Great numbers of Polish immigrants traveled to America during the time of the American Revolution and hundreds of thousands came during the periods of European instability that followed. Settling in the northeastern and midwestern parts of the U.S., Polish Americans went to work in mines, factories, refineries, foundries and in construction. Though victims of discrimination, many came to run successful businesses over time. Like many other groups, Polish Americans lost much of their ethnic awareness as they became wealthier and more Americanized, but today they attempt to recapture it through education and by encouraging Polish pride. /

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF NEO-NAZISM
H C A
The Holocaust is the most intense expression of evil in our century: denial that the Holocaust existed is one of the tenets of neo-Nazism. In this shocking documentary, four young, articulate neo-Nazis form England, France, Austria, and Germany travel across Europe. In Cafe, at rallies, and on trains, they talk about themselves, their love of Hitler, and their disbelief in the Holocaust. In Berlin, they are unexpectedly asked to go to Auschwitz, a place whose existence they mock. Upon meeting a survivor, they shout, "Who cares today?" and for seven uncut minutes argue about the Holocaust. The neo-Nazis finally walk away, and the camera visits the crematorium. "People went in," says the witness, "but they didn't come out. Now ask these chaps, where are they?" 52 mins / 1994

RACE & ETHNICITY
H C A
This film shows the difference between prejudice, discrimination, and racism using historical and current examples. The effects of prejudice & discrimination through the eyes of Asian, Hispanic and African-American families are explored concisely. 30 mins / 1991

STARTING SMALL
C A P
Produced by Margie McGovern Films, starting small visits five early childhood programs in which teachers and children are building classroom communities that promise a brighter future for all of us. Through documentary footage, teacher interviews and commentary from child-development experts, viewers will learn why more and more early childhood educators have come to recognize that teaching tolerance outright in the curriculum is as fundamental and far-reaching as teaching children how to read. 58 mins / 1997

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