Lessons Of African-American History: Closing The Racial Divide

By Janice S. Ellis

February is Black History month, and it presents an educational opportunity that can aid us in closing the great racial divide between blacks and whites.

Designating February as Black History month is the nation’s attempt to correct its lack of acknowledgement and treatment of African-Americans in the normal annals of America’s history. While it is a good remedial effort, the month-long recognition is not enough within itself.

Patsy Takemoto Mink's Fight For Equality Across Gender, Race, & Ethnicity

By Ann Scheer

The legacy of Patsy Takemoto Mink cannot be pinned to one ideal or cause. While her trademark was ensuring equal rights for women, Mink was a spokesperson for many controversial issues.

She often took unpopular stances against such things as nuclear testing and was among the first to speak out against the Vietnam War.

Beyond the Burrito...The Rich and Refined Ethnic Cuisine of Mexico

By Zain Deane

Finding a burrito in Mexico City isn’t easy. That’s because the burrito comes from the northern part of the country, and isn’t truly representative of Mexican food. The Tex-Mex hybrid Americans so often mistake for authentic “South of the Border” cuisine is an unrefined interpretation of true Mexican gastronomy. Mexico is a country with a deep culinary tradition that spans millennia and is far more sophisticated than most people expect.

Florida Farm Workers Demand Basic Human Rights For All Ethnicities

By Ann Marina

Cruz Salucio gets up at 4:30 every morning and leaves the tiny trailer he shares with nine other farm workers in Immokalee, FL. The 25-year-old Guatemalan joins a crowd of tomato pickers in a vacant lot by the general store. Farmers arrive before sunrise, lumbering along in old school buses to pick up workers.

"In the harvesting season, there's plenty of work," Salucio says. "But as the crops decrease, so do our working hours and resulting paychecks."

Marty's Diner...Ethnic Diversity At Its Best

Welcome to Marty's Diner, created by Dmitri Jackson especially for USARiseUp.com, a place where everyone is invited to share the laughter as we celebrate our ethnic diversity and cultural uniqueness together here at USARiseUp.com.