EASTHAMPTON — Racial Justice Rising and the Emily Williston Memorial Library have teamed up to host a virtual workshop on Wednesday and on Oct. 20 to explore the Black experience locally and nationally.
Allen Davis, a volunteer with Racial Justice Rising for the past four years, said the conversation will be about “what it’s like to be Black… especially given all that has happened since the murder of George Floyd.”
The discussion will revolve around accounts from Dick Hall, Jeanne Hall, and Gloria Matlock, three African Americans local to Greenfield. The three speakers also will share their thoughts on topics, including Derek Chauvin’s conviction and the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. The discussion aims to examine how predominantly white communities can understand the perspectives of others and think critically about racial justice.
The event, titled “A Conversation About Racism: Staying Curious, Moving Forward, and Being Part of the Solution,” will be held over Zoom at 6:30 p.m on both Wednesdays and will be moderated by Davis. Although he’s helped organize a dozen events like this around New England over the past three years, Davis said the Black speakers are “really what the program is all about.”
Registration for the events are free on the Emily Williston Memorial Library’s website and there’s no limit for the number of attendees. People can register to receive the Zoom information at http://tinyurl.com/ewml-racism-talk.
Racial Justice Rising is a volunteer group based in Franklin County that fights racism with advocacy and education.