What would be a good book or video to share with kids in a group home to teach cultural differences?

Question

I think something rather exotic, not just a modern sub-culture. I want to discuss social anthropology with delinquents.

Answer 1

freedom writers

Answer 2

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (DVD might be better than book).

Movie - The Warriors (1979)

Book - Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America (2000)

Book - Bernal Diaz's The Conquest of New Spain. London: Penguin Books (1963)

DVD - Shogun (1980), made for TV

Movie - The Last Samurai (2003)

Movie - Dances with Wolves (1990)

Answer 3

What age group?  I'd personally go with writings from the group itself.  It's more interesting, I think, because you're directly identifying with the culture and its people, rather than hearing about them from a third party.  Maybe you can read them some of the myths and legends of that group.  There are plenty of books out there from every culture whose myths we do know- Native Americans, Celts, Egyptians, Chinese, Sumerian, Greeks, and on and on.  You might also check out writings from members of that group.  For instance, the graphic novel and movie _Persepolis_ is from the point of view of a woman who grew up during Iran's revolution.  _Reading Lolita in Tehran_ is about an English Lit professor during that time.  An older group might enjoy that, and it discusses American culture in relation to Iranian, so that's a twofer for you.  You could read biographies about famous people- Chief Sitting Bull, Gandhi- and discuss the differences between their lives and yours.  There's really a lot of ways to go with this.  Good luck!