ABSTRACT

The book, Race Matters by Cornel West was published in 1993. As he made the talk show circuit to promote the book, West talked about how in America we need a a dialogue on race. He envisioned a forum in which ethnically diverse members of society would sit down together and share feelings about each other with each other.

The idea had already been roaring around in my head at Washington High School in Milwaukee and in Karla Mullen's at Watertown High School in Watertown, WI. Unknown to each other, we both were seeing the need for students to learn to appreciate each other's differences and we both had access to videoconferencing units in our school.

A Hi-Mount Community School teacher in Milwaukee in the summer of 1996 suggested Karla and I meet and put our heads together. With that, first, by videocon- ference and, a few months later, in person, Karla and I met and began to develop what became a six year, and ongoing, dialogue on race or as we call it, Cultural Sharing, between our two schools and the about 30 different represented nationalities.

The project has grown by leap and bounds. Students at both schools, who have been involved as sophomores, come back as juniors and seniors and request to be included in each year's activities. Having begun with two teachers the interactions now include three and sometimes four teachers and classes at each school.

 

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Last updated May, 2006