Skin color, one of the most conspicuous physical traits, encompasses complex social and cultural meanings and value judgments that can influence individuals' lived experiences and social wellbeing in a profound way. In this article, the authors provide a brief overview of how skin color diversity evolved, its corresponding biological and…

Young people who graduate from high school, get a job, and get married before having children, in that order, are far less likely to be in poverty and far more likely to have a solid footing in the middle class later in life. This path to adulthood has been dubbed the "success sequence." The cultural norms and values embedded in the…

At many universities and colleges across this nation there is an annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his vision of "a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." At these ceremonies, it is common for various campus leaders and administrators to vow renewed…

This phenomenological study explores how African-American female administrators (individually and collectively) perceive the relationship between their identity and their leadership voice. The study focuses upon perceptions of 11 African-American female administrators who serve the 14 main campuses of the universities constituting the Pennsylvania…

This paper is based on a small-scale study of the minority ethnic student experience at a small mainly "white" university in the south of England. Students described their experience as broadly positive but suggested clashes of values in some areas of campus social life. Where the curriculum explored notions of culture, students valued…

Addresses conceptual problems that teachers face in addressing racial and multicultural issues. Identifies the problem of determining criteria to use for students and their own enterprises. Explores the roles of educational, social, and psychological values and the aims of multiculturalism. Examines the meanings of race and culture and the dangers…

Argues for more multicultural education in the United States at all levels, but particularly in higher education. Earlier conceptions of multiculturalism (assimilation, transitional multiculturalism, residual multiculturalism/tokenism) have not succeeded; a variety that both emphasizes the core values of cultures, and serves as a unifying factor…

The development of multicultural education to its current role of promoting ethnic pluralism as a social value is described. The article surveys the variety and scope of definitions of multicultural education. The role of ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, and gender in shaping a child are discussed. (JL)

This collection of 56 French poems, intended for use in a bilingual education setting, is presented in an attempt to capture and interpret the spirit of the Franco-American. The heritage and everyday life of the people, their towns and villages, the laughter and games of their children, their occupations, their hopes and dreams, and their joys and…

The "diversity myth" is the myth that universities are doing a good job promoting diversity on campus. Universities in America have promoted this "diversity myth" which belies the actual state of affairs in the nation's schools. Instead, universities have fostered conformity on campus, and stifled true diversity. This document, sponsored by the…

Research on U.S. "Greek" sororities has typically addressed issues dealing with White women in higher education. In contrast, this case study sought to identify the cultural behaviors and group norms that serve to enhance academic achievement and reinforce personal growth among members of a Latina sorority. In fall 1993, interviews were…

Presents a rather obtuse and apologetic defense of "The Bell Curve," claiming that the authors have been wrongfully accused of racist tendencies while admitting the many examples in the book that support the claim. Maintains that the book objectively examines important issues of class, intelligence, and social stratification. (MJP)

Identifies relative deprivation as a subjective feeling of discontent based on a belief that one is getting less than one feels entitled to. Investigates the relationship between relative deprivation, ethnic identification, and racial attitudes in South Africa. Discusses the connections between these beliefs and recent sociopolitical changes. (MJP)

Describes a college sociology course on the relationship of language and ethnicity, whose topics include intergroup communication and miscommunication; representation of ethnicity in cultural texts; and the role of ethnicity in socialization, values, religion, and social institutions. Development of the course, choice of instructional materials,…

Examines the effect of situational variations of ethnic identity and their relationship to measures of psychosocial adjustment. Among French Canadian university students, English-speaking students who identified strongly with their first language group but exhibited a high degree of inter-situational variation experienced more stress, depression,…