Emma's Poem

Gr 1—4—The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor, but what does she stand for? She is the "Mother of Immigrants," welcoming new arrivals to our shores with a promise of liberty and opportunity. In her book (Houghton Mifflin, 2010), Linda Glaser aptly makes the argument that it was the heart and voice of Emma Lazarus that endowed the statue with her treasured meaning. Glaser introduces Lazarus, pointing out the privileged background the poet enjoyed and the harsh contrast she saw between her own life and the lives of new immigrants. Lazarus worked with immigrants and tried to change public sentiment that labeled them as a drain on society. When prominent writers were urged to create works to help raise funds for the statue's pedestal, Lazarus wrote "The New Colossus." Her sonnet was read at the statue's dedication, and in 1912 a bronze plaque with the poem was added to the pedestal. Since then, it has been memorized, recited, sung, and pondered by new generations. Glaser's evocative, interesting text is read with feeling by Frances Sternhagen, with original background music by Bruce Zimmerman. Claire A. Nivola's beautiful paintings are scanned, allowing viewers to focus on the details that might otherwise be missed. Historical photographs are also shown. These immigrants stare at the camera with eyes that haunt viewers with their untold stories. The DVD begins with a short introduction by the author describing her own immigrant ancestors and the reason she chose to write the book. A children's chorus singing "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor" is heart-catching. This evocative presentation about an important symbol of American freedom is a must-have.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA