Cover Stories: On July 4, what do "Americans" look like?

CELEBRATING AMERICAN DIVERSITY

COVER STORY—Meet Grace Lee Boggs in a deeply inspiring new PBS-POV documentary about her century of activism from her home in Detroit. From civil rights to community gardens, Grace’s faith in diversity is unstoppable. (Tell friends about this story! We explain how to watch this film anywhere you’ve got Internet access, throughout July.)
WHY COMMUNITY GARDENS?—Because they grow healthier communities! We’ve got a stirring film clip of the Canticle Farm organized by the environmental activist Joanna Macy, who soon will appear in the Global Spirit TV series.
TASTES OF AMERICA—Joe Lewis visits our FeedTheSpirit column for a wry look at how one Brit became an American, and adopted some of our tastes.
DETROIT ORIGINALS—Suzy Farbman has news about HeartSoul Detroit, a gorgeous new book of photos showcasing famous Detroiters.

THIS WEEK—What if America’s new Manifest Destiny is to prove that we can peacefully become the most diverse nation on Earth? That’s the provocative question Michigan State University’s Joe Grimm poses in a week-long OurValues series. Joe teaches a team of students, called Bias Busters, making news headlines for producing an important new series of cultural guidebooks.
- PART 1: Is diversity America’s new Manifest Destiny?
- PART 2: Some surprises about our largest minority group.
- PART 3: How Asian students contribute to America.
- PART 4: Arab Americans—terrorism and patriotism.
- PART 5: Better interfaith communication.

OUR WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL continues with profiles (and videos!) of three more courageous Interfaith Peacemakers.

ALL THE PEACEMAKERS—This home page links to all of our peace-through-music profiles this summer. (You can give friends a simple URL, too: www.InterfaithPeacemakers.com) This week’s new profiles (and videos) are …
SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE ALL STARS—A band born in an African refugee camp.
ARNOLD AP—He dreamed of freedom in West Papua, New Guinea.
VICTOR JARA—Like Arnold Ap, this Chilean musician dreamed of freedom.

HOLIDAYS AT A GLANCE—Tell friends to visit www.InterfaithHolidays.com

FOURTH OF JULY OVERVIEW—Stephanie Fenton reports on the huge celebration with useful links to foods and more.
LOU GEHRIG 75 YEARS AGO—This July 4 is the 75th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous Luckiest Man on Earth speech. And, yes, that’s Babe Ruth hugging him in this photo from that famous day.
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1964—Fifty years ago, President Johnson inked a piece of paper that changed life in America.
RAMADAN—This year, the Muslim fasting month coincides closely with the month of July.
JULY THEMES GALORE!—Did you know July is Hog Dog Month, the centennial of the start of World War I … and we’ve got a wonderful interfaith dog video to share!

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS—Our reviewers rave about this bittersweet love story …
- VISUAL PARABLES—Faith and film writer Ed McNulty names this his Feature of the Week.
- RODNEY CURTIS—Author of A”Cute” Leukemia says: Whatever else you do this week—go see this movie!
JERSEY BOYS—Ed McNulty also highly recommends this Clint Eastwood-directed movie about the life of Franie Valli.
THE IMMIGRANT—And, Ed gives a strong recommendation to this somber story of immigrants in the 1920s.
HUNGER GAMES FANS—Jane Wells has spotted a cool new website to whet your appetite for the next movie.

LAST … AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST … Dive into deeper waters this week! Debra Darvick provides a perfect visual inspiration in her latest His Lens/My Pen.