Diversity+Resource+Guide

[|Democracy Now!]

Democracy Now! is a non-profit news organization that broadcasts domestic and international stories through internet, over the radio, and on television. It employs investigative reporting and offers critical analysis on a variety of issues ranging from racially motivated violence to homosexuality in the military. As part of its commitment toward equity over the airwaves, Democracy Now! provides a forum for marginalized and unrecognized communities in the United States to voice their personal stories and experiences. This equity also manifests itself in creating space for unconventional and radical ideas from all around the globe, including those from the developing world. As part of the web-site, there is utilization of live-streaming technology and offers interpretations for Spanish speakers. It also provides links to other [|independent media sources] and [|teaching resources]

Democracy Now! would serve as an important tool in my history and social studies classes because of its articulation of historical and contemporary events. The site would be a way to inform my students about the human, economic, and social costs of war in Afghanistan and Iraq through the perspective of an Afghan or Iraqi. It would be utilized as a method in which to educate my students on the impact of unequal immigration policies articulated through the interview of a Haitian-American community activist. Democracy Now! can also be used to help explain the emergence of progressive social movements in Latin America through the storytelling of a Uruguayan novelist. My utilization of the site will bring a variety of voices, images, and experiences to the classroom, thus better informing my students about issues occurring around them, locally and globally. Listening and watching social, political, and cultural events unfold on this site will both offer my students the opportunity to **experience** these happenings and allow them to be part of a wider dialogue involving others from different backgrounds.

Luis' home page or MIT Fall 2009 Resources Guide