Just like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States is again experiencing great waves of immigration. How can we prepare ourselves for the changing face of America...whose population will soon be 25% Hispanic and 5% Asian? [Current stats about U.S. immigration]

The current ethnic climate in the United States has made the country less of a "melting pot" and more, as one young immigrant described, "a salad bowl with lots of little chunks". Many teens recognize a rising animosity towards immigrants, citing tensions over racial and cultural differences as a common source of violent confrontations. [Express your point-of-view on the issue] "Teen Immigrants: Five Stories" introduces you to the hearts and minds behind unfamiliar faces, helping to break down negative stereotypes, celebrate diversity, and gain tolerance and understanding across lines of color and nationality. The program portrays the variety of challenges young immigrants face, but it also emphasizes what we all have in common.
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Their experiences are real, their emotions sincere. In "Teen Immigrants: Five American Stories", you'll get to know five young people seeking the "American Dream": Anton, from Russia; Luincys, from the Dominican Republic; Mohammed, from Guinea, West Africa; Fatima, of Indian descent, from Tanzania; and Michael, from China. [Cast your vote about discrimination]

As we spend time with these teens in their daily lives, they speak honestly and thoughtfully about why they emigrated to the U.S., their native countries and cultures, their impressions of America, the challenges of language, school, peers, and family...and their dreams and plans for a future in their adopted country. They also offer their intensely personal perspectives on racism against foreigners. "Terms like discrimination, prejudice, stereotype," says Luincys. "I never heard those terms in my country. I learned them here." Adds Fatima: "If a Muslim is a terrorist, it doesn't mean that we are all terrorists. That's totally wrong."

"Teen Immigrants: Five American Stories" was funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The program is regularly re-broadcast on PBS affiliates across the country. Please check our schedule and station list for airtimes. [Great resources] [Get help 24/7]

Related In the Mix episodes:

• Dealing With Differences ("The New Normal" Series)
• Teens Around The World
• Racism: Erase The Hate
• What's Normal: Overcoming Obstacles And Stereotypes
• 9-11: Looking Back...Moving Forward
• Self-Image: The Fantasy, The Reality