CMU
LIBRARY COLLECTIONS - 2004
Information
about new and important diversity-related resources available at the CMU Libraries.
December, 2004
Women and the United States Constitution:
history, interpretation, and practice.
[Book KF 478 A5 W654 2003]
This
book is a collection of essays written by feminists, historians, political scientists,
philosophers and activist. The intent of the book is to supply some groundwork
for a feminist theory of the United States Constitution and provide an account
of political legitimacy within the framework of democracy. The topics are divided
into three broad divisions relating each to history, interpretation or practice.
The essays focus on both the strengths and weaknesses of the constitutional tradition
in the United States. For more information, ask at the Reference Desk on the second
floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Judy O'Dell)
November,
2004
Racial and Ethnic Diversity: Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Native
Americans, and Whites. 4th Edition.
[REF E184.A1R78 2002]
The
fourth edition of Racial and Ethic Diversity is "a profile of America
at the millennium." It presents the all-important 2000 census numbers on
race and reveals that the diversity of American population has increased more
than ever before. This edition includes chapters on minority-owned businesses,
provides detail on the Asian population, and also incorporates once-a-decade look
at Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. This volume further provides the key
to understanding both the similarities and differences between whites and blacks,
Hispanics and non-Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians. The volume includes
tables that might be helpful to researchers to compare characteristics across
racial groups. For more information, ask at the Reference Desk on the second floor
of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Aparna Zambare)
October, 2004
Dictionary
of Race, Ethnicity and Culture.
[REF GN496.D53 2003t]
The
Dictionary of Race, Ethnicity and Culture is a fine example of a subject-based
professional dictionary. This dictionary is significant because it recognizes
that the often unrelated areas of race, ethnicity, and culture are historically
and theoretically inseparable and that they form a coherent area of study. The
200 entries cover all the important concepts and terms from everyday life as well
as from academic discourse. Written in a clear and simple language, these entries
provide short scholarly articles. Each entry includes a list of references for
further reading. The entries are written by scholars coming from a wide range
of countries and disciplines. For more information, ask at the Reference Desk
on the second floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Aparna Zambare)
September,
2004
2000 Census of Population. Characteristics of American Indians
and Alaska Natives by Tribe and Language.
[Gov. Doc. C
3.223/28:2000 PHC-5/pt.1-pt.2]
Also available via Internet: http://www.census.gov/census2000/pubs/phc-5.html
This
2-volume report from the U.S. Census Bureau contains extensive data about: American
Indian and Alaska Native languages; family and household size; educational attainment;
disability status; journey to work; income in 1999; poverty in 1999; units in
dwelling; house heating fuel; vehicles available; value of home; telephone service
available; selected monthly owner costs; and renter costs. These data are shown
for the United States, regions, divisions, states, and selected metropolitan areas.
This report is a companion to the Census 2000 American Indian and Alaska Native
Summary File (AIANSF). It is somewhat similar to the 1990 CP-3-7, Characteristics
of American Indians by Tribe and Language report. For more information, ask
at the Reference Desk on the second floor of the Park Library building, or call
989-774-3470.
(Review by Dave Shirley)
August, 2004
Encyclopedia of African and
African-American Religions.
[REF BL 2462.5 .E53 2000]
This
single-volume encyclopedia focuses exclusively on religion, its place in African
and African-American societies, and its impact on society in general. The Encyclopedia
contains 145 articles written by 72 international scholars representing a wide
spectrum of academic disciplines. Since most of the scholarly contributors have
conducted ethnographic research among the followers of the varied religions outlined
in this work, many of the short- to medium-length articles are enriched by the
scholars' personal experiences with believers. Each of the articles includes useful
bibliographies and the Introduction includes helpful information regarding the
best ways to access information in the Encyclopedia. Includes a helpful general
index at the end of the work. For more information, ask at the Reference Desk
on the second floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Rob Faleer)
July,
2004
Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women.
[Books HQ 1767.5 .A3 B56]
This two volume set covers the Qing Period (1644-1911)
and the twentieth century. It was compiled from contributions of a group of scholars
from China and various Western countries. Many of the women profiled were selected
because they excelled in a profession or trade, a field of study, literature,
or the arts. Others were chosen because they had a significant influence on society.
The entries are succinct but detailed and contain references. Also included is
an index by background or field of endeavor. For more information, ask at the
Reference Desk on the second floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Sandy Folsom)
June,
2004
Population Diversity and the U.S. Army.
[Gov.
Doc. D 101.146:2001035703]
Also available via Internet: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS12111
This
volume contains the papers from a June 1999 conference about population diversity
and the future direction of military recruiting programs. Contents include: Introduction:
primer on future recruit diversity / Lloyd J. Matthews - The Russian people and
their Army: a negative example for America / Robert Pringle - The American military
and the people it serves: together or drifting apart? / John R. Groves, Jr. -
The U.S. Army and ethnic diversity: a historical overview / Douglas V. Johnson
II - Diversity in the 21st century Army: leadership issues / Joseph C. Jones -
Systematic planning for raising the future force / Michael J. Stehlik - The Hispanic
market: an overview / Ricardo F. Diaz - Women in the United States military /
Myra J. Peterson - Person to person: the diversity challenge for the Army after
next / Andre H. Sayles - Conclusion: approaching the issues of recruiting diversity
/ Lloyd J. Matthews. For more information, ask at the Reference Desk on the second
floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Dave Shirley)
May, 2004
Encyclopedia
of Islam and the Muslim World. 2 Volumes. 2004.
[REF BP 40 .E525
2004]
This two volume resource presents 504 brief alphabetically arranged
articles dealing with major aspects of Islam, both past and present and is addressed
specifically to students and general readers. Useful bibliographies are included
at the end of each article as well as a general index at the end of the second
volume. The Encyclopedia also includes a synoptic outline of the alphabetical
contents in the front matter on pages xxxi-xxxiv which provides readers with a
useful overview by topic and subtopic of the range and kinds of information presented
in the main body of the work. The main topic areas of this section include Biography,
Culture, Geography, Groups and Organizations, History, Law, etc. The Encyclopedia
includes approximately 170 photographs, maps, drawings and charts. This work is
international in scope and reflects the diversity of ideas and practices that
have characterized the Islamic world throughout its history. For more information,
ask at the Reference Desk on the second floor of the Park Library building, or
call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Rob Faleer)
April, 2004
Irish and Postcolonial
Writing: History, Theory, Practice.
[Books PR8719.I75 2002]
Edited
by Glenn Hooper and Colin Graham, this book consists of twelve essays written
by the scholars of Irish studies and postcolonial theory. The essays discuss the
place of Irish writing in postcolonial theory. In the last twenty years, the humanities
departments have shown considerable interest in theoretical discussions on the
condition of postcoloniality. This incredibly heterogeneous subject field has
been quite difficult to define. In this light, some contributors of the present
book argue that Ireland does not really fit within a postcolonial framework. Objections
to a postcolonial reading of Ireland were initially raised because of British
colonial policies and practices devised differently for Africa and Asia than for
Ireland. However, now that the idea of a postcolonial Ireland has taken root,
some of these scholars suggest, people need to be very careful when it comes to
revealing which methodological approach they favour, the Foucauldian-Saidian or
the Bhabha-led post-structuralist one. For more information, ask at the Reference
Desk on the second floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Aparna Zambare)
March,
2004
Clothing the Pacific.
[Books GT 1597 .C56 2003]
This
book, made up of eight cross-cultural case studies, explores the role of cloth
and clothing in the Pacific and the Pacific Diaspora from the colonial period
to the present. It seeks to move beyond stereotypic views about indigenous people
and European missionaries and other colonizers to present a more complex and divergent
picture of the history of this aspect of Pacific material culture. A dominant
theme is the ongoing preoccupation with the religious, cultural, and aesthetic
significance of both indigenous and imported cloth and clothing styles. For more
information, ask at the Reference Desk on the second floor of the Park Library
building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Sandy Folsom)
February, 2004
Equal
Protection of the Law: Gender and Justice in the United States.
[Books KF478 A98 2002]
Written by Mary Welek Atwell the book explores the
question, do women currently have equal protection of the laws in the United States.
It examines how patriarchal institutions have evolved and survived in this country.
In addition it reviews the Supreme Court's approach to deciding gender issues
during the last century. The book looks at the issues as a part of the historical
process that brought us to the situations that exist today. For more information,
ask at the Reference Desk on the second floor of the Park Library building, or
call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Judy O'Dell)
January, 2004
Supreme Court Decisions
and Women's Rights: Milestones to Equality.
[Books KF 4758 A7 S87
2000]
Sponsored by the Supreme Court Historical Society, the book is divided
into eleven chapters each focusing on a different issue. The book tells of the
Supreme Court's role in reviewing laws related to gender discrimination and provides
background on how and why the Court changed from protecting those laws. Information
is provided about the social and political environment in which the cases were
decided, and about the plaintiffs involved. For more information, ask at the Reference
Desk on the second floor of the Park Library building, or call 989-774-3470.
(Review by Judy O'Dell)
