RJI Community Book Read & Discussion (Online)

The Racial Justice Initiative’s annual community book read is The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. The RJI’s education committee found the book to be a seminal work that disrupts the conventional narratives found the founding of our nation and has truly stirred much controversy and prompted much disturbing misinformation about “critical race theory”.  Join us for this four-part series about This History You Were Never Taught. Attend some or all of the series! Our guide will be Dr. David W. Rattner, fellow TBE congregant.

Dates: April 5, 12, 25 & May 10

Registration
Registration is required to gain access to a course webpage for The History You Were Never Taught. This event will take place through a video conference call. Pre-registration is required. Please click the registration button above to pre-register. Once you have registered, your unique access link will be emailed to you.

Topics by date:
April 5: Overview of the book’s thesis as well as a recognition and summary of the criticisms it has engendered. Participants will be asked to read the Preface (by Nikole Hannah-Jones) and the NY Times Magazine, November 12, 2021 article, “The 1619 Project and the Long Battle Over U.S. History” (by editor-in-chief Jake Silverstein). RJI member and Professor of Sociology Cathy Bueker will discuss critical race theory and the current debate it has engendered.

April 12: A dive into understanding how white fear has been routinely weaponized against African Americans (Chapter 4: Fear by Leslie and Michelle Alexander); and how racially-determined standards are applied to the actions of defending oneself (Chapter 9: Self Defense by Carol Anderson).

April 25: Exploring two examples of discriminatory practices as applied to Healthcare from the Civil War days through today (Chapter 15: Healthcare by Jeneen Interland); and to the creation of segregated communities, spawned by the interstate highway system, redlining, blockbusting, etc. (Chapter 16: Traffic by Kevin M. Kruse).

May 10: A recapitulation of The Origin Story, tying together the themes elaborated in the various chapters with Nikole Hannah-Jones’ case for reparations—beginning with General Sherman’s Special Field Order #15 that was nullified by President Andrew Johnson and then detailing the centuries-long, persistent wealth disparities as a result of the structural characteristics of the American economy/governmental policies. (Chapter 18: Justice by Nikole Hannah-Jones). Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia will join us to discuss Reparations.

About RJI
TBE’s Racial Justice Initiative works to increase our understanding and activism to address ongoing discrimination and inequality.