America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa, a PBS documentary series produced by the Harlem-based Futuro Media Group, reveals how dramatic changes in the composition and demographics of the United States are playing out across the country.
Teaching Tolerance partnered with America by the Numbers and Futuro to create classroom lessons for six of the episodes in the series, described below.
Note: America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa has updated several of the episodes originally broadcast in 2014 with current data and epilogues about the main characters. The updated episodes are available here. All related Teaching Tolerance lessons have been updated. A new 2016-election-focused episode—“The New Deciders”—premiers September 6, 2016, and the accompanying classroom lesson can be found here.
Mainstream, USA
Welcome to Clarkston, Georgia—one of the United States’ most diverse square miles. This episode examines how Clarkston’s daily realities reflect wider demographic trends and explores the collaborations and collisions that are occurring between the old and new South.
Politics of the New South
“Politics of the New South” follows three unlikely candidates in a Clarkston, Georgia, election: former refugees running for office—and voting—for the first time. Will they be able to bring new voters to the polls and make their voices heard?
Our Private Idaho
American suburbs are becoming more diverse, but the “exurbs” that surround them remain overwhelmingly white. “Our Private Idaho” explores the complexity of living in a homogenous community.
Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town
Asian Americans are often referred to as the “model minority,” but Southeast Asian Americans have some of the lowest high school completion rates. “Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town” visits Long Beach, California, to find out why this educational crisis is happening and what people are doing about it.
The New Mad Men
Latinx people are quickly becoming some of the most sought-after consumers. “The New Mad Men” and the related lesson explore how a successful multicultural ad agency is speaking to the emerging millennial Latinx market.
The New Deciders
“The New Deciders” explores demographic groups that are redefining the electoral landscape in 2016. This election special looks specifically at how black millennials, Arab Americans, Latino evangelicals and Asian Americans are changing what the electorate looks like and cares about. (The episode airs September 6, 2016.)
