We Are All Multiculturalists Now.

Multiculturalism in American education has been the subject of much debate and it has established a powerful position in both higher education and in earlier schooling. This book explores the conflict over multiculturalism, examines the social situation from which it has emerged, and considers implications for the future of American society. The first chapter, "The Multicultural Explosion," introduces multiculturalism and sets the stage for the discussion. Chapter 2, "The New York Story," discusses the conflict that arose over new social studies guidelines for schools in New York State. In Chapter 3, "What Is at Stake in Multiculturalism," four fears and concerns about multiculturalism are analyzed. Chapter 4, "The Rediscovery of Nubia and Kush," considers recent conflicts over social studies guidelines in California and the effort to establish national social studies curriculum guidelines. Chapter 5, "Dealing with Diversity, Past and Present," considers some of the background to multiculturalism in older conflicts over the proper response to diversity in American society. Chapter 6, "Where Assimilation Failed," explores assimilation as an ideal and a reality, focusing on the failure to include African Americans in assimilation efforts. Chapter 7, "Can We Be Brought Together," explores consequences of that failure and the separation of blacks and whites in the United States. Chapter 8, "We Are All Multiculturalists Now," discusses the inescapableness of the multicultural phase in current education. (Contains 126 endnotes.) (SLD)