How do you learn what it means to be American? Can you learn it in school? What do you learn if Americans you see don't look like you or your family? Mrs. M writes that

The dolls and other resources currently available to my students do not represent their ethnic backgrounds nor those of other diverse communities and varied ability groups.

I recently wrote about privilege which can take many forms. One form of privilege is to see people who look like you represented as normal. To not see your reflection can lead to internalizing a perception that you are not only not "normal" but that you are not right and people who look like you are wrong or bad. I was reminded of the award winning short film by then high school student Kari Davis, A Girl Like Me. Davis re-created the black-white doll test used in the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. It is both eye opening and heart breaking. It is only 8 minutes long and I encourage you to watch.

After you watch, I hope you'll join me and BlogHer in the Donors Choose Challenge and consider donating to Mrs. M's Family Diversity proposal. Her request is for a set of dolls representing ethnic, national and ability diversity. As she writes:

Your generous donation to purchase these 7 diverse sets of dolls will help ensure my First Grade students are able to play with figures that represent them and enrich their view of what being American is in the 21st Century.

Click here to see the BlogHer Donors Choose Challenge page where you will find the Family Diversity proposal. Even $1 will help Mrs. M's young students learn to see themselves as worthy, normal everyday Americans. As they grow up, that perspective will enrich us all.

Related Reading:

How to create your own Donors Choose Challenge page (be sure to label yourself as a BlogHer member so your page will link to our challenge page)

Widgets for the BlogHer Donors Choose Challenge page

Christie at Educational Technology 534 - The importance of diversity in the classroom

Megan Colvin, 2nd Grade Social Studies @ Wright State - The Dimensions of Cultural Diversity

Family Diversity Projects including Of Many Colors: Portraits of Multiracial Families and The Road to Freedom: Portraits of People with Disabilities