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The United States of America thrives on diversity. A synthesis of the world’s varied races, religions, and cultures, it is a home to all, such that no one group can call itself more “American” than another. And the fusion of cultures here is so unique that citizens can be just as proud of their original cultural heritage as they are to be an American.

This collection takes a good look at what it means to be “American” and examines the rich heritages that make up our country. From Asia to Europe to Africa to Latin America, some 128 articles trace each nationality’s history and contributions to the American way of life.

Diversity in America not only presents a host of intimate snapshots of culture and heritage, but documents the struggles of nationalities to integrate into the “melting pot” society of America, and highlights the strength and integrity of various cultural leaders and thinkers.

Here, for our AOL@SCHOOL readers, we present four articles from the Diversity in America collection.

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	Cofradia: The Penitentes of New Mexico Like an ocean wave riding up the slope of a beach and gradually coming to a halt, its power expended, so the wave of Spanish colonization, about a century after it had exploded from a Spain that had just defeated the Moors, slowed and stilled in the high mountains of northern New Mexico.
	Proud Scots Scottish tradition and culture is vigorously alive in America. The massed pipe bands, Highland dancing, performances on fiddle and Celtic harp, various athletic events--to say nothing of the Highlander's distinctive attire--attest to Scots’ untiring efforts to preserve their cultural heritage.
	Mardi Gras Indians In New Orleans the mere mention of a nickname or family surname can ignite detailed descriptions of times past. It is a paradise of oral history. The spoken word contains implicit meanings nurtured by centuries of a cross-fertilization of cultures.
	The Chinese in America Chinese-Americans enrich the United States with their intellectual and artistic achievements, business acuity, influence, and patriotism. Yet of all the peoples who migrated to America's shores, the Chinese possibly had the toughest time of all.