Encyclopedia of Multiculturalism, Supplement

Library Journal

Marshall Cavendish claims to have published this two-volume supplement to the Encyclopedia of Multiculturalism (LJ 4/15/94) because of a continued strong need for reference materials on multiculturalism. The Supplement, like the original six-volume set, aims to collect information in one place on groups and issues that were previously left out of popular reference works. Since multiculturalism is now a more prevalent part of contemporary life, however, most newer reference books cover it in their entries, and there is not much here that cannot be found elsewhere. Furthermore, multiculturalism is defined so broadly that the work reads like a summary of the current events of the past four years without any sharp, theoretical focus (e.g., see the entry "Gore, Tipper"). Still, some recent controversies are handled well (e.g., Columbus Day celebrations), and young adults and general readers may find the compilation of information on so many diverse groups in one source useful. Together, the two volumes include 584 entries, and the appendixes in the second volume offer an updated time line, resources, filmography, bibliography, subject list, and general index, all of which supersede the original six-volume set. Recommended for school and public libraries.--Marc Meola, Temple Univ. Lib., Philadelphia

Library Journal

Multiculturalism is defined broadly in this six-volume set, as evidenced by entries for ``Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Epidemic,'' ``Keller, Helen,'' and ``Walters, Barbara.'' Several centuries and hundreds of topics are covered, with emphasis upon the United States. Historical, political, and sociological perspectives predominate. The scope is so broad that the unadventurous might not realize that there are entries, for example, for ``The Maryland Act of Religious Toleration,'' ``Parochial Schools,'' ``Sharecropping,'' and ``Antifeminism.'' More than two-thirds of the pages feature photographs, tables, maps, or document excerpts (some of which are full-page). Given its title, this set will be easily found in online catalogs; once it is noticed on reference shelves, it will be perused by browsers. Both children and adults in a variety of libraries will consult this source; it is a relevant tool for these days and times.-Katherine Dahl, Western Illinois Univ., Macomb

From The Critics

This set for middle-school and high-school students recognizes and celebrates American cultural diversity. Much of the information students need for historical research on a variety of topics is found here The format is easy to use. Each volume has a table of contents that lists every entry. The last volume has an accurate "A-Z" index and two classified indexes, one by subject and the other by culture. Entries range from 100 to 5,000 words and include ethnic groups, biographies, concepts, and historical events. For example, volume 1 contains the entries "Armenian Americans, Herman Badillo, African American-Jewish American relations, Abortion, Black Entertainment Television," and "Bay of Pigs Invasion." References to related entries are indicated by small capital letters. Biographies note date and place of birth and death. Clear black-and-white photographs and charts are abundant Longer entries are signed and include a suggested reading list. These entries have detailed discussions that relate the historical and cultural aspects of a topic. For example, the entry "Acadians" tells of their migration from Canada to Louisiana and discusses their culture, including language, food, crafts, and music. There is no reference from "Cajun" in the body of the encyclopedia, but it appears in the index. Most ethnic groups have a similarly long entry Volume 6 has a timeline of key events in American multiculturalism, a list of addresses of organizations representing different ethnic groups or advocating multiculturalism, and a filmography and a bibliography, both current to 1993 (although neither is exhaustive--"The Joy Luck Club" is omitted from the movie titles) Among the entries showing the breadth of coverage of the set are "Feminist movement"; "Ancestor worship"; "Buddhism"; "Census, 1990" (which discusses its problems); "Poets and poetry"; "Valentine's Day"; "Kwanzaa"; "Cinco de Mayo"; "Yom Kippur" (but not Ramadan); "Yonsei"; "the Blues"; "Gays and Lesbians"; "Sanctuary movement"; "Scapegoat"; and "Rainbow coalition". A few entries seem unrelated to the topic: "Brook Farm", "Bryn Mawr College" This set is highly recommended for young adult collections in schools and public libraries, though the vocabulary will challenge some younger readers (e.g., "coercion, marginalized, incipient"). Nowhere else is so much information supporting multicultural education available in a single source at this reading level.

Booknews

A general student reference of uncommon interest, examining American history and society through the experience of racial, ethnic, national, religious, and other marginalized groups (including children, disabled people, and gays and lesbians) whose experiences and views have often been excluded from the mainstream of American history. The encyclopedia focuses on key multicultural concepts, events, people, places, and organizations in alphabetical entries from the A. Philip Randolph Institute to the (anti-Mexican American) zoot-suit riots of 1943. The shortest entries are brief, 100-word biographies of significant people past and present. Signed articles on major subjects such as colonialism, sexual harassment, assimilation, and civil rights contain up to 5,000 words. Many entries are accompanied by photographs, maps, diagrams, and charts. Volume 6 includes a time line, multicultural resource directory, filmography, bibliography, subject list, and index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A new two-volume supplement which contains 588 new articles, 30 of which, along with five new appendices, update important time-sensitive entries that appeared in the original set. Organized in a traditional encyclopedic format with alphabetical entries by topic pertaining to the multicultural makeup of North America. Both volumes contain many b&w photographs. Each volume has a separate ISBN. Volume 7 (7062-X) covers A-M, and the remaining entries are to be found in Volume 8 (7063-8), which also includes an index with cumulative entries and cross-references for the six original volumes plus the two supplements. Pagination (to p.633) continues from the original six-volume set. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.