Many Voices (1976)

[Music] Americans the broad variety of people  who make up our society their parents and grandparents were the men and women who  cleared the land tilled the soil built the railroads worked the mines and forged  the steel in the building of our nation [Music] some of our forefathers came here by ship  from England in the 1600s some of our people were already here and met those ships most of our  forbearers arrived later in the 17 and 1800's on other kinds of ships some came seeking  greater opportunities and freedoms some came here because they had no choice our people did  not disappear into a melting pot we are people who enjoy our own special customs and traditions  foods and costumes languages and music crafts and performing arts and together we make up America  strong and rich in its cultural variety a vivid mosaic of our entire society yet with each piece  retaining its own bright and essential integrity [Music] so much about us so many fantastic things  about our respective selves are not known by other people and as they become known the sense of  the wealth of our diversity and the strength of our continued efforts in behalf of those deep  and true beliefs that we hold is in fact the strength of the fabric of our society the American  Revolution Bicentennial Administration recognizes the importance of our nation's ethnic and racial  heritage and we are working with many groups to make sure there is full participation in the  Bicentennial many of the people you see here are active in a national forum called the Bicentennial  ethnic racial Council or Burke in nineteen seventy five over five hundred representatives of various  ethnic and racial groups met in their nation's capital to exchange ideas on Bicentennial  programs and activities one dominant theme stands out Bicentennial ethnic racial Council  members want to work with other groups in their own localities on Bicentennial projects that will  promote mutual cultural respect and progress Burke representatives are setting up local or regional  ethnic racial forums to continue the work begun at their National Conference to join with them  contact your state Bicentennial Commission for information on ethnic racial and Native American  programs in your area there are a number of ways you can get involved in a Bicentennial project  Bicentennial plans revolve around the themes of heritage 76 festival USA and horizons 76  heritage 76 lets us remember the many peoples of the United States who have contributed  to the growth and prosperity of our country young people are researching and  recording the histories of their neighborhoods and sharing that special  history with others many communities are restoring churches and meeting halls to  preserve the cultural heritage of their people older Americans hand down a sense  of pride in ethnicity to their children [Music] and many people are conserving traditional arts  and crafts for future generations festival USA is an opportunity for us to celebrate our cultural  traditions through music dance foods and crafts racial and ethnic communities in almost 100  American cities will hold festivals this year to share traditions and folk ways with visitors  of similar backgrounds from around the world through the Smithsonian Institution's old ways in  the new world on tour program many local groups are working together to hold City celebrations  neighborhood fairs and programs of traditional music and dance you can organize your own  bicentennial festivities to celebrate your community's cultural richness horizons 76 is  a challenge to work together to shape a better tomorrow in ethnic and racial communities  neighborhood improvement and multi-ethnic education programs play a large part looking  to the 3rd century it is important that our children have a sense of self awareness  and understanding of the backgrounds of their schoolmates I see the Bicentennial in  a sense of tapping into our roots it taps into our resources energy sharing with others  without fear irrespective of the differences and putting ourselves together in a better  way to face the challenge of the 3rd century get involved in the Bicentennial in your  community talk with your neighbors about how you can join the world's largest volunteer effort  the observance of our nation's 200th birthday your ethnic racial or Native American Bicentennial  project may qualify for recognition through the National bicentennial ethnic racial Alliance for  information right to the ethnic/racial program office American Revolution Bicentennial  administration 24:01 East Street Northwest Washington DC - OH - 76 America is not a melting  pot it is a nation of nations whose cultural and ethnic pluralism is a fact of life a fact that  should be acknowledged a fact that should be celebrated the Bicentennial is a time to view our  cultural pluralism as our national strength a time to see that it is this very quality that enriches  us a time to honor and share with one another and above all a time to work together towards a  unity of purpose within our rich diversity [Music]