A Common Path
is a one-hour audio documentary which sings the construction of the American cultural mosaic, as represented by the State of Florida. It (somewhat lightheartedly) asks the lyrical question, “What have we come to, and how?” as Florida’s peoples face and deal with the problems of immigration, the predicament of having a rich, central, attractive location, and issues of living in a changing world…
The program documents, debates, and dances with the issues and solutions inherent in each peoples’ culture, and those brought by the processes of growth and co-existence. We hear from and about the Creek people who evolved into the Seminole/Miccosukee nations; from Crackers, Spaniards, Italians, Greeks, Conks, Cubans, Chinese, Haitians, Yankees as peoples from all over Europe, North America, the Caribbean and even Asia meet, clash, and merge…
A Common Path, Part 1
ca. 1500–1925
The following segments of the first part are also recommended as discussion-prompts:
Melting pot or mosaic?
Policy and reaction
A Common Path, Part 2
ca. 1925–present day
The following three segments of the second part are also recommended as discussion-prompts:
Debating: Culture
The Cost
The Ecology
Conclusion
On October 22, 2000 Listening Between the Lines continued the Common Path project with the on-air forum Finding a Common Path, broadcast live on WMNF-88.5 FM community radio in Tampa Bay.