Cyberfolk
Friendly Guided Web Site Tours
Like most of us, I wear many different hats: I am a spouse, father, friend,
Teacher, learner and activist just to name a few. Both my wife and I are
public school teachers in Berkeley, California, where our goal is to help
promote meaningful learning and equitable opportunities for all of our
students.
California is a very diverse state where multicultural education
is blossoming. The internet, with all of its ups and downs, is proving to
be a tremendous resource in the development of this positive trend.
I must admit, I have had an advantage over most teachers when it comes to
tracking down resources on the net. For the last three years, I have been
the primary caretaker of our three adopted toddlers. Trapped in the house
during nap times, I have turned to my computer for mental stimulation...and
multicultural explorations.
After a slow start, African and African American art and culture are making
their mark on the web. If you have looked into this field at all, you
probably have run across Net Noir. Perhaps the
most polished site around dedicated to black life, it is definitely worth a visit.
You should also make sure to stop by The African-American Mosaic. This
large collection of
resources, maintained at the Library of Congress, offers a wealth of
material for the study of African-American history and culture.
But my tastes tend to favor the more obscure and less entrepreneurial
projects out there. Though harder to find, these gems provide valuable
insight into African and African American art and culture, both historical
and contemporary.
Watoto ("children" in Kiswahili ) World is a multifaceted tool for African American children, parents and educators. Its goals include: providing parents with culturally relevant learning materials; fostering communication between students and internet-skilled mentors; encouraging urban schools to invest in and utilize technology; and to promote African-American centered education and schools. In addition to an array of useful resources, Watoto World also features a wonderful magazine for kids (edited by a 10 year old) of poetry, artwork and essays.
This resource from the University of Pennsylvania is the most useful I have found on the topic, since it is well annotated and specifically designed for educators and students. It covers just about everything, including languages, libraries, country-specific data, environmental info and multimedia resources.
The focus of this exhibit is the ethical and religious foundation of African Art. Though there are only 14 images, the site is useful for those wishing to make comparisons of different masks and headdresses from different regions in Africa. It is also an easy site to view because all of the images and descriptions are located on one page.
Check out poetry, quotes, editorials, health and news...all from "the Afrikan American voice at NC State." This is a real slice of life, covering the arts, lifestyle and public opinion.
These resources on African, Caribbean, and African-American culture are hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, which is leading the way in African studies info available on the net.
Interactive historical exhibits including "Black Resistance: Slavery in the U.S.," "The Tuskegee Airmen," "Jackie Robinson," "The Black Panther Party," "Black or White," "The Million Man March," "The Scottsboro Boys," and "This is Our War." This is an absolutely fascinating virtual museum.
This is another fine virtual museum, featuring works from numerous museums and collections, dedicated to studying all forms of African arts including the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Africa.
"Despite the hardships and political trauma suffered by this country, Haiti remains a wellspring of creativity and imagination." I couldn't put it any better than that. You owe it to yourself to stop by this intriguing collection. My favorite feature is the new voodoo flag exhibition.