VOA慢速英语2011--Culturally Diverse Dolls from Two New Yo

AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ - Culturally Diverse Dolls from Two New York Toymakers

DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.
(MUSIC)
I'm Doug Johnson. This week, on our program we play new music by hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa…
We answer a question about Easter celebrations in the United States…
But first we tell about two New York-based businesswomen and the products they created for children.
(MUSIC)
Brownstone Buddies²
DOUG JOHNSON: The United States is often called the “great American melting pot.” That is because of the many nationalities, ethnic³ groups and cultures that make up America. It is the most culturally diverse country in the world. One company is celebrating that diversity through a line of cloth dolls called the Brownstone Buddies. The dolls are designed to help teach young children about other cultures. Faith Lapidus has more.
FAITH LAPIDUS: New York has the largest population of any American city. More than eight million people live there. Brooklyn is the most populated area of New York, and one of its most culturally diverse.
The United States Census⁴ Bureau says Brooklyn is home to ninety-three different ethnic groups and one hundred fifty nationalities. This cultural diversity is one of the things that “Brooklynites” say they love most about their community. It is also what led to the creation of the “Brownstone Buddies.”
Janai Nelson and Crystal Granderson-Reid thought of the idea for the dolls during a play date for their children. Janai Nelson says the two of them learned that they shared the same ideas about raising children.
JANAI NELSON: “We both are extremely interested in raising our children with a world outlook and a global view. And we just didn’t see anything out there that they could embrace and see a reflection, not only of themselves, but also of the world at large.
The two women decided⁵ to develop a line of dolls that looked more like their children, and their children’s friends. They developed eight “Brownstone Buddies” in all. The dolls represent different cultures and are said to have different interests. Some were purposely designed to fight old stereotypes⁶.
JANAI NELSON: “Each of the characters has a unique characteristic that we think is not often represented by their ethnicities, broadly speaking, in the media.”
One of the dolls is an Asian-American boy who loves sports. Another is a Latin American girl who loves to read and tell stories. There also is an African American girl who loves mathematics.
In two thousand six, the two women entered their creations in a competition at New York’s leading toy store, FAO Schwarz. The store is famous for offering interesting and unusual toys. The “Brownstone Buddies” were chosen as a finalist among more than two hundred toys. Janai Nelson says the dolls are a perfect reflection of the “great American melting pot,” but without the melting.
JANAI NELSON: “It in some ways challenges this melting pot idea and makes it more of a lovely stew⁷, where each ingredient is still whole and firm and full of its own unique flavor and identity.
Janai Nelson says she hopes the dolls will help children to love who they are and the special qualities they have. She and her partner hope to expand the “Brownstone Buddies” product line to include books and other media. They also have plans to add more dolls in the future.
Easter in America
DOUG JOHNSON: Our question this week is about the Christian⁸ holiday of Easter. That is when Christians⁹ celebrate the life of Jesus and his return from the dead. For most Christians, Easter, this year, is on Sunday, April twenty-fourth.
Our question comes from Belgium. Christian wants to know how Americans celebrate Easter. He notes an interesting Easter tradition in France, where many Roman Catholics live. Churches in France do not ring their bells on the two days before Easter Sunday. The bells are silenced in respect of the death of Jesus. They ring again on Easter Sunday, the day Christians believe he came back to life.
French children are told a story about why the bells are quiet on Good Friday and the next day. Parents say the bells have flown to Rome to see the head of the Roman Catholic Church. But on Sunday morning, the bells return and ring again.
In America, many children are told stories about the Easter Bunny. He is said to bring eggs, chocolates and other sweets, and hides them for children to find on Easter morning.
Chocolate bunnies are popular at Easter
The Easter Bunny tradition probably developed from a German celebration of spring. Germans first settled in North America in the eighteenth century. They celebrated¹⁰ the Goddess of Spring, Eostre. Ancient images of Eostre show her carrying eggs and young bunnies. Eggs are an almost worldwide symbol of birth. The young animals represent the ability to reproduce, to make new life.
Individual families often organize Easter egg hunts. But egg hunts can also be public gatherings¹¹. In New York City, one Brooklyn neighborhood is holding such an event for a seventh year. On Saturday, the Brooklyn Bridge Park will welcome children and their families for an egg hunt. Other activities include face painting, egg decorating, music and storytelling.
Children in America might also enjoy a movie this Easter Sunday. Hollywood released “Hop” just in time for the holiday. It tells the story of E.B., the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. E.B. runs away to Hollywood, where he hopes to become a rock and roll musician. Here, he talks with a human friend, Fred.
(SOUND "Hop")
E.B.: “No you’re right. It’s not your concern. And in two weeks maybe you can explain to the children of the world why they didn’t get their Easter baskets.”
FRED: “Easter.”
E.B.: “Oh, yes, Fred. I am the Easter Bunny.”
FRED: “Hop in.”
Many Christians in America attend religious services on Easter Sunday.
There are also non-Christian holy days around this time of year. Jews observe Passover, for example.
This year, none of the major Muslim holidays are close to Easter or Passover. But that will change in future years because Muslim holidays follow the Islamic calendar.
Wiz Khalifa
DOUG JOHNSON: Wiz Khalifa has been recording¹² music for several years. But his new album, “Rolling Papers,” has outsold his earlier albums by well over one hundred thousand copies. Katherine Cole has more about the hip-hop artist and his new album.
(MUSIC “Black and Yellow”)
KATHERINE COLE: That is “Black and Yellow” from Wiz Khalifa’s album “Rolling Papers.” The song honors his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Black and yellow are the colors of the city’s football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wiz Khalifa is not a Pittsburgh native. He was born in the city of Minot, North Dakota in nineteen eighty-seven. His parents were in the military and the family left Minot when he was still a baby.
Wiz Khalifa lived in Germany, England and Japan as a child. He says moving around helped him learn to enjoy different things. He says his music has a worldwide sound. Here he performs “Wake Up” from the new album.
(MUSIC)
Wiz Khalifa’s unusual name was not given to him by his parents. He was born Cameron Thomaz. His family called him Wiz because everything he tried he did well. His grandfather is Muslim so he took an Arabic word for the rest of his stage name. Khalifa means successor or leader.
In “When I’m Gone,” Wiz Khalifa tells about the temporary nature of life.
(MUSIC)
We leave you with “Fly Solo” from Wiz Khalifa’s album “Rolling Papers.”
(MUSIC)
DOUG JOHNSON: I’m Doug Johnson. Our program was written by June Simms and Caty Weaver¹³, who was also the producer.
Join us again next week for music and more on AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

1 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

2 buddies   

n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人

参考例句：

• We became great buddies. 我们成了非常好的朋友。 来自辞典例句
• The two of them have become great buddies. 他们俩成了要好的朋友。 来自辞典例句

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 stew   

n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑

参考例句：

• The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
• There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

10 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

11 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

12 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

13 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。