Rebecca & Lynn,
I have heard this poem before, and very much like it in the context of what we are working on. Thanks for sharing that!
I have invited John to join us and have done a little research into the website I mentioned in my last post. John first introduced us to Rethinking Schools Ltd., a different sort of source for textbooks offering a refreshing take on topics, as well as far more affordable prices! I have spent a lot of time perusing the offerings there and have considered using some as textbooks in my classes, but have yet to make the leap.
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/index.shtml
Today I found the following titles there related to the Multiculturalism course, as well as some of the others:

Rethinking Multicultural Education — NEW!
Rethinking Multicultural Education moves beyond a simplistic focus on heroes and holidays to demonstrate a powerful vision of anti-racist, social justice education.
(I am thinking about ordering this one to review)

Rethinking Globalization:
Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World
This comprehensive new book from Rethinking Schools helps teachers raise critical issues with students in grades 4 - 12 about the increasing globalization of the world's economies and infrastructures, and the many different impacts this trend has on our planet and those who live here.

Failing Our Kids:
Why the Testing Craze Won't Fix Our Schools
Includes more than 50 articles that provide a compelling critique of standardized tests and also outline alternative ways to assess how well our children are learning.

Open Minds to Equality
Open Minds to Equality is an educator's sourcebook of activities to help students understand and change inequalities based on race, gender, class, age, language, sexual orientation, physical/mental ability, and religion.

Rethinking Our Classrooms
Teaching for Equity and Justice -Volume 1 — NEW Edition!
This revised and expanded edition includes creative teaching ideas, reproducible handouts and lesson plans that promote values of community, justice, and equality.

This was just a quick overview and I don't know that these will be useful, but I like the idea of researching "outside the box" where textbooks are concerned. I hope to have time later today to do a little more research.
Suzanne