Race Matters in Prince George's Co., MD & the USA

Guide to Antiracism in Prince George's County and the world

uu_mom — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 22:02:54 GMT

Here's a great interview Ibram X. Kendi on the solution for America's "metastatic" racism. He will be speaking at Prince George's Community College on April 3; here is the flyer and you can purchase tickets here.

Also read about regular events on antiracism, such as A Dialog on Race and Ethnicity (ADORE) at Davies Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Camp Springs.

Classism in Services #middleclass #homeservices #thehelp #classism

uu_mom — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 17:42:13 GMT

This blog focusses on Prince George's Co., but this is a problem throughout the United States (I don't know about other countries, but I understand classism is everywhere - would love to hear from people in the comment area about their experiences in different areas, though).

Just because people come from a long line of oppression / racism doesn't mean they don't have this behavior, too, but is especially a problem among white people and people who are new to middle or upper-middle class and never had a service job themselves. Here is a TV clip of an example of the problem:

What did you observie there? (If you can't hear it, see dialog text below.) A home service worker comes to do the job, gives his estimate to fix it (not unreasonable for what needs to be done) and he's turned away without being paid. This is not unlike a lack of tipping a waitor/waitress since it is about getting paid. In the U.S., certain service people are allowed to be paid much less because they're expected to make tips and others, like this service worker, probably works by commission or is self-employed, which means he doesn't make money if he doesn't get paid. And if he's self-employed, he has to pay over-head (telephone, transportation - cost of vehicle, gas, and repairs, insurance, office, accountant, etc.), so not being paid would mean he loses money. If he works for a small business, that small business loses money AND he may not get paid if he's working by commission only.

We're good at complaining about the big corporations making too much money and become monopolies, often not treating their customers well. But if we don't want big corporations, we need to help small businesses thrive.

This is just one example. This situation happens to housecleaners and many other industries. This site shows the average pay for certain jobs and we can see how household services (not the supervisors so much as the actual workers) get paid less.

We complain about the economy, but we can help each other make the economy better in some ways. If you can afford to pay for services, hire a local service - there are lots of sites that rate them and give information about them, and once you hire them, pay them. They should be able to at least give you a ball park of the amount it should be (if it's just a quick fix or if it needs a new part) - you should be able to get a range. If you can't afford it, don't hire them in the first place - sending them away without paying is unconscionable.

Dialog: “$358 for a sensor that costs $28. I’ll fix it myself.”
“It’s a complicated job. You know what I did back in Russia?”
“Yea, you were a doctor or a scientist.”
“No, I fixed driers. I’ve been doing this a long time.”
“I’m sorry I’m no push-over. I’m afraid it’s a hard ‘nyet’.”
So he decided to do it himself and made it worse.
- from "Modern Family" Feb. 14, 2017 Episode: “Do It Yourself”

President Obama Gives Us Charge & Farewell as PGers Start #PGResist #PrinceGeorgesCounty #PGCounty

uu_mom — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 05:33:54 GMT

President Obama gave us a charge in his final speech, "...you are the best supporters and organizers anyone could hope for, and I will forever be grateful. Because yes, you changed the world.... I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written: Yes We Can."

Yes we can participate in our democracy and be the resistance to racism, war, and other acts of hate and oppression. Prince George's People's Coalition met with several organizations (see details and photos on Facebook), including ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) which is gearing up to march on Jan. 20. Prince Georgians who will be joining them suggested the use of the hashtag #pgresist.

Also take note of a discussion on the book "The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement" by Rev. Barber at Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church on Jan. 15 - see this PDF with the announcement.

Please share.

Note: The above photo of Barack Obama was taken at Prince George's Community College in 2007 before most people even knew who he was.

Meet Author: "...how an African American boy from the Jim Crow-era South... achieve great success"

uu_mom — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 04:24:56 GMT

MEET THE AUTHOR

Congressman James E. Clyburn, 3rd highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, will discuss his book titled, BLESSED EXPERIENCES, at the Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD, on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at 1:30 p.m.. Please join us at this event.

Below is a synopsis of Congressman Clyburn's book:
Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black

From his humble beginnings in Sumter, South Carolina, to his prominence on the Washington, D.C., political scene as the third highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn has led an extraordinary life. In Blessed Experiences, Clyburn tells in his own inspirational words how an African American boy from the Jim Crow-era South was able to beat the odds to achieve great success and become, as President Barack Obama describes him, "one of a handful of people who, when they speak, the entire Congress listens." (Oxon Hill Library's Homepage)

Seeking African American families from Prince George’s County who moved here in 1970s

uu_mom — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 18:28:42 GMT

This message is from Ark Media:

Ark Media is seeking African American families from Prince George’s County, Maryland for a story about the Black Middle Class, as part of a four-hour PBS documentary series.

This series -- tentatively entitled FROM BLACK POWER TO THE WHITE HOUSE — takes viewers on a journey through the last half-century of African American history, exploring the unprecedented progress and lingering obstacles to racial equality since the landmark legislative victories of the civil rights movement. The series will be hosted and executive produced by Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and will air on national PBS in 2016.

We are looking to interview a family from Prince George’s County as part of a discussion about the growth of the African American middle class.

We would love to speak to you if you or your family:

·      Identify as middle or upper middle class and African American

·      Currently live in Prince George’s County

·      Moved to Prince George’s County in the 1970’s

·      Lived in a neighborhood with a population that changed from predominantly white to African American

And

·      Observed first hand the effects of the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008-09 in your neighborhood

We’re interested in the factors that drew you to your current neighborhood, your experiences living there, and the changes your neighborhood has undergone since your arrival.

Please feel free to forward this message to your contacts. Please reach out to Eu-Hua Chua, Associate Producer at e.chua@ark-media.net or (718) 935-9745 ext 107.

“LINKED BY SLAVERY, COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST”

uu_mom — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 00:01:58 GMT

“LINKED BY SLAVERY, COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST”
WHAT:   Organizing meeting for Coming to The Table for DC area
When:    6 December 2014, 11:00-1:30
Where:   Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church
7400 Temple Hills Road
Camp Springs MD 20748
(301) 449-4308
www.dmuuc.org

Coming to the Table (CTTT) is an organization whose mission is to “provide leadership, resources, and a supportive environment for all who wish to acknowledge and heal wounds from racism that is rooted in the United States’ history of slavery.” Coming to the Table is unique in that it was initiated by descendants of slave traders, slave holders, and others directly involved in the slave economy in partnership with the Center for Justice and Peace Building at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was inspired by the vision of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said in his 1963 March on Washington speech that one day “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” The vision of Coming to the Table is “of a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past—from slavery and the many forms of racism it spawned.” CTTT’s approach to achieving its vision and mission involves four interrelated practices:

   •   Uncovering History: researching, acknowledging, and sharing personal, family and community histories of race with openness and honesty
   •   Making Connections: connecting to others within and across racial lines in order to develop and deepen relationships
   •   Working Toward Healing: exploring how we can heal together through dialogue, reunion, ritual, ceremony, the arts, apology and other methods
   •   Taking Action: actively seeking to heal the wounds of racial inequality and injustice and to support racial reconciliation between individuals, within families, and in communities.

After the meeting, we hope you can join us for 1st Saturday at Davies, a free blues jam/open mic session from 1:30-5:00. You can join us for a meal (Chili and fish will be served for a small donation), play your own instrument, meet other musicians, find a band, practice skills before a live audience, and listen and dance to the house band Anthony’s “Swamp Dog” Clark & The All Star Blues Band and an Ebra African Music and Dance Troupe.

If you will be able to attend, please RSVP by November 30 to: Lynda Davis at lyndadvis@aol.com or (410) 636-4587. Thank you!

Genealogist? Found slavery / slave trade in your history? Consider Reconciliation in DCarea

uu_mom — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 18:32:42 GMT

On Dec. 6, Saturday 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, the Washington Area is having a Coming To The Table gathering - Coming to the Table provides leadership, resources and a supportive environment for all who wish to acknowledge and heal wounds from racism that is rooted in the United States’ history of slavery.

Descendants of enslaved people and enslavers, gather together for sharing and learning. We will discuss Reconciliation and Coming to the Table's Vision, Mission, Values, and Approaches. We extend a special invitation to European American descendants of : slaveholders, slave catchers, slave traders, and others directly or indirectly involved in the slave economy (banking, insurance, mortgage lending etceteras) and have a need to talk about it.

This program is being hosted by Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church at 7400 Temple Hills Rd., Camp Springs, Maryland. Contact Lynda (lyndadvis [at] aol.com) by November 30 to RSVP.

Also, join Davies Church for A Dialog on Race and Ethnicity on Fri., Nov. 14 - potluck preceding is option and starts at 6:30 PM.

Moving Beyond Ferguson: Know Your Rights Community Forum

uu_mom — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 20:20:23 GMT

From NAACP Prince George's County, Maryland Branch:

On October 2, a coalition of groups will invite parents, youth, adults and community leaders to be a part of a training and discussion, "Moving Beyond Ferguson: Know Your Rights Community Forum." There will be a panel of experts, followed by discussion on the topics of your rights when interacting with police, racial disparities within law enforcement and the justice system, preventing police brutality, and sharing solutions.

Co-Sponsors: ACLU of Maryland, Prince George's County Branch of the NAACP, 100 Black Men, Men Aiming Higher, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Flowers High School, Prince George's Human Relations Commission, Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. Center for Education, Justice & Ethics, Inc. and Casa De Maryland.

WHAT: Training and panel discussion, "Moving Beyond Ferguson: Know Your Rights Community Forum."

WHO: David Rocah and Sonia Kumar, ACLU of Maryland Attorneys
Garland Nixon, retired police officer and ACLU-MD Board Member
John Chamble, Branch Chief, Federal Public Defender
Judge Alexander Williams Jr, (United States District Court) Retired
Donnell Turner, Deputy State's Attorney for the Prince George's County
Gustavo Andrade, Director of Community Organizing, CASA de Maryland

WHEN:           Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 6-8 P.M.

WHERE:         Charles Herbert Flowers High School,
                       10001 Ardwick Ardmore Road,
                       Springdale, MD 20774.

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Do we need a national discussion on race? How about one right here? #princegeorges

uu_mom — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 03:32:15 GMT

Almost every day we see something on the internet now. Still do we all see it the same?

Last week the Washington Post ran this story: When white friends don’t believe what blacks go through, they’re not friends

Today CNN ran this story: 'Django Unchained' actress defends not giving ID to cop

Blacks are tired of talking about it as the CNN reporter who just wanted to warn people so they don't get into trouble (not a bad idea because they will get into more trouble than Daniele), but in the report, it almost looks like she didn't understand why Daniele put herself out to show what is happening in this country.

Will white people talk with black people about race? Yes, they do at A Dialog on Race and Ethnicity, which will be held again on the 2nd Fri., Oct. 10. Bring your friends of any race or ethnicity.

“My Journey From Indifference to Consciousness of Racial Inequality"

uu_mom — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 02:10:16 GMT

Lynda and Rusty Vaughn, members of Coming to the Table who are descendants of African slaves, slave traders, slaveholders and those whose family fortunes relied on slavery, will be speaking about their journeys from indifference to consciousness of racial inequality at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church this Sunday, Sept. 14, at 10:30 AM. They ask us to consider,"Can Humans Override Their Reptilian Brain?"

"Finding African Americans in Historic Newspapers" Special Presentation in Suitland Sept. 20, 1 PM

uu_mom — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 22:32:10 GMT

This was shared from AAHGS, Proince George's County Chapter:

The event, sponsored by five AAHGS Chapters, will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at the Suitland Family History Center, 5300 Auth Road, Suitland, MD 20746. We ask that you distribute the flyer to friends family, neighbors, libraries, organizations,etc. Please feel free to submit the flyer for publication to your local newspaper or various calendars. Also, please go onto Tim's Facebook Events' Page and talk about your newspaper research successes and challenges. Tim will use some of these submissions during the program.

Download PDF flyer here. ( You may be able to read PDFs in your web browser, depending on your settings and/or plugins. )

Thank you for your assistance in publicizing this event. Hope to see you soon.

Note: The door prizes are three copies of Tim's book "Finding and Using African American Newspapers".

Jane Taylor Thomas
President
AAHGS-PGCM Chapter
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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Multiculturalism in Education #pgcps

uu_mom — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:53:45 GMT

Starting on page 34 in this online magazine, Living Education eMagazine, is a wonderful article “Teaching and Celebrating Diversity in Schools: My Experience as a Teacher and Researcher in Prince George’s County Public Schools” by Dr. Arvenita Washington.

She tells a story of immigrant African students who could not walk in a straight line in the halls of the school, not for the sake of defiance, but due to remembering being forced to do so in their home country and seeing some pulled out of the line and killed.

She explains how truly multiculturally diverse this county is. She also tells of Afro-Latino/a who could not choose just one identity even though they were being compelled to do so.

She challenges teachers to think out of the box about the diversity in their classrooms and to strive to create equitable multicultural school environments.

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center Needs Your Help and Your Voice

uu_mom — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 19:32:06 GMT

Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center Needs Your Help and Your Voice at The County Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program Hearings on April 29 and May 5.

The Prince George’s County Council Public Hearings on the County Budget are fast approaching. The County Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program Hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 and Monday, May 5, 2014 at 7:00pm in the Council Hearing Room of the County Administration Building, First Floor, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD. PGAAMCC is scheduled to present its request for funding for the completion of the museum building in the heart of the Gateway Arts District. We need $4million to make an 18 year old commitment finally come true.

In the mid 90’s, a group of citizens in North Brentwood, the oldest incorporated Black township in Prince George’s County, knew that they had a duty and an obligation to ensure their history was not forgotten by future generations. The Friends of North Brentwood was established to build such an institution. In August 2010, PGAAMCC became an independent private 501(c) 3 institution with the mission of building a museum to tell the Countywide stories of the contributions of African American and African Diaspora peoples to the development of Prince George’s County. Today, we are trying to make the Founders’ dreams finally come true.

Our programs have attracted international and national attention. At the Mall at Prince Georges families participate in our Early Keepers program of music, dance, art and storytelling for 3 to 7 year olds. We work with the Arc of Prince George’s and are a veritable staple of the School System for our work with our Museum In A Box displays. Our Culture Keepers program at the Suitland School for the Performing Arts works with the youth program at the Afro Museo in Sao Paulo Brazil. Our students will travel to Brazil to meet their counterparts and share research. Later in the year our students will host their Brazilian counterparts in our county. We are the only museum in the country to have a museum studies internship project with a community college workforce services program (Prince George’s Community College).

Last year we served over 25,000 people with only 6 full time people and one part time staff person! We need to build the 10,000 sq. ft. addition to complete the Museum. It will have performance, events, classroom, and meeting spaces, as well as a coffee shop, gift counter, and a 4,000 sq. ft. Gallery (already completed!). If you feel that this project is worth completing, please come and add your presence and your voice to speak on our behalf at either of the two hearings listed above. Please help us go the last mile of the way in making this dream a constructed reality!

Can we count on you to speak and bring others with you who are willing to stand with us? If so, please click on the links above to contact Tracey T. Jones, Director of Media and Public Programs. She can be reached at ttjones@pgaamcc.org or (301) 809-0440 x111. Let the County Council know that Prince George’s County’s African American History and Culture are important to YOU and that this institution is critical to its dissemination.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jacqueline F. Brown,
Executive Director

[Not] Driving while Black [President] #race #africanamerican

uu_mom — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:44:23 GMT

Most people understand what "Driving while black" means and if you don't you probably aren't black or don't know anyone well who is. I understand that this experience hasn't changed much in the last 5 years.

President Obama has the privilege to not have to drive and thus not have that experience. Or does he actually have that experience, but in different ways? Possibly even more so.

Back in 2007, 6 months before the primaries, as a volunteer I noticed how organized Obama and his campaign staff and volunteers worked on security. I went to one other Presidential campaign session prior to the primaries and didn't see any security like that. Could the color of his skin make that kind of difference? I think Obama knew about race politics in this country then and might have had an idea that it would get worse before it got better.

The thought came to mind when reading What Should “Racism” Mean?, an excellent article pointing out the difference in presidencies between the current and past, especially in terms of media reaction. The article points out: "For a lot of whites who don’t harbor any conscious racial malice, things just look different when blacks do them. What do you call that?" and quotes from a new book:

Ian Haney Lopez’ recent book Dog Whistle Politics. Lopez notes that racism changes from one era to the next, and somebody changes it. “Racism is not disappearing,” he says, “it’s adapting.”
Lopez uses the word “racism” for most of the possible meanings, and differentiates with adjectives. Here are some of the ones he finds:

racism-as-hate.

structural or institutional racism.

implicit bias.

commonsense racism.

strategic racism.

You can read the article to get descriptions on those kinds of racism. I didn't add racism to the title of this article. Would you have read it if I did? He says that most racists are not bad people, even most conservative whites are not haters.

As someone who's working at anti-racism, I questioned someone's choice of pet in terms of their choice of friend - since I thought that friend knew I didn't think of them as racist, I thought they might find humor in the way I stated it. Unfortunately, it backfired on me and the person thought I was accusing them of being racist and was very defensive.

It is an emotional topic and very difficult to discuss. We have a long way to go.

How do you feel about this?

View Poll: Racism in the Obama Era?

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Diversity benefits & working well in #princegeorges

uu_mom — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:45:29 GMT

Prince George's Suite is running Prince Georgian of the Week series. Each is proud to live here, often citing its diversity. The latest, Danielle Basilio, says, “Prince George’s County epitomizes diversity – geographic, educational, cultural, and social. I am honored to be affiliated with a county that embraces diversity and utilizes resources to “elevate” the community.” I feel the same way.

Article about diversity vs. white-superiority written recently is here. It started a little conversation on my Twitter account from someone who is "not racist" but doesn't understand anti-racism (fighting to end racism).

A Dialog on Race and Ethnicity on March 14, 2014 in Camp Springs

uu_mom — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:10:21 GMT

ADORE Discussion with Optional Potluck

March 14 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

In the ADORE (A Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity) forum at Davies Memorial UU Church, race relations are discussed and the American way of life with the aim of exploring feelings on racial issues and learning more about ourselves and others

Optional potluck at 6:30 p.m.

Discussion begins at 7:30 p.m.

Discussion Topic: Winter-time race awareness encounters and current events

Open Discussion: Participants are encouraged to share and discuss events or situations that prompted them to reflect upon their own racial identity.

Topics to be offered by the facilitator for discussion

Give us your thoughts regarding:

a. The racial identity to assign to Santa Clause;

b. The jury’s decision in the Florida trial of Michael Dunn in the killing of Jordan Davis, a black teenager, who was playing loud music;

c. The moral or immoral trend in U.S. culture as evidenced by those pursuing the legalization of marijuana and the restoration of voting rights to ex-felons;

d. The arguments favoring replacing more public schools with charter schools and the racial considerations involved;

Where, when, and who prompted the then alien (and wrong-headed) idea that human slavery was immoral?

What was your take-away from the PBS television 3 part series on African American History that was recently shown in Oct and Nov of 2013 and in Feb 2014?

Facilitator: Chris Bell, (301-856-2775)

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Black History beyond Black History Month #princegeorges

uu_mom — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:03:51 GMT

AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY MARYLAND CHAPTER
2014 Tentative Calendar of Events
Date - Event/Location - Speaker/Participants
March 11
Harmony Hall Regional Center
10701 Livingston Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744
Women’s History Month’s Program
March 15
1:30 – 3:00 pm Women’s History Month
AAHGS-PGCM Chapter Meeting
Seabrook Recreation Building
9443 Worrell Ave Lanham-Seabrook, MD 20706
Speaker: Whittona R. Burrell, M.S. U.S. Census Bureau Topic: The Federal Census Records and their Impact on the Preservations and use of those records
March 19 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Martin Luther King Library
901 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
mlkjrlibrary@dc.gov
Phone: (202) 727-0321
Metro Stop: Gallery Place, Metro Center
Speaker: Nathania Branch Miles, co-Author
Topic: Prince George’s County and the Civil War: Life on the Border
May 17
1:30 – 3:00 pm
AAHGS-PGCM Chapter Meeting
Seabrook Recreation Building
9443 Worrell Ave Lanham-Seabrook, MD 20706
Marvin Jones
Topic: Robbins family who served in the Union Army, their backgrounds, and their fates
June 14
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
AAHGS-PGCM/
M-NCPPC/PGCHS/LDS
9th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Seminar
Watkins Park, Upper Marlboro, MD
Various Presenters including Melvin J. Collier, Session Topic: Mending Broken Ties: Reconstructing Family Trees Sawed by Slavery
June 21 6:00 pm – 10 pm
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
1501 E. Oliver Street
Baltimore, MD 21213
BAAHGS 25th Anniversary Banquet
June 28
11:00 am- 1:00 pm
Research Café Montpelier Mansion/Historic Site
9650 Muirkirk Road
Laurel, Maryland 20708
Nathania Branch Miles
Topic: Beginning Genealogy
(genealogy web search)

Learning about ancestry and connecting with family members of different #racial appearance #pgcounty

uu_mom — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 20:41:43 GMT

One way to strike out against racial prejudice is not only to learn our histories, but also to identify as or with another race as close as family.

Three such women who've done that spoke at a special presentation in Prince George's County. Read about it here.

Also check out the Washington Post article about the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) who are helping to increase the black population of the DAR. They would like to see more Native American members also. They don't just increase their own knowledge and diversity of this group, but they also do community service and education.

"Broken on All Sides" film & discussion Fri. 7 - 9:30 PM Burke, VA

uu_mom — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:09:35 GMT

Friday, January 24 2014, 7 – 9:30 pm

ACCOTINK UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH’S
Friday Night Film Series Presents:

BROKEN ON ALL SIDES

Broken On All Sides is a documentary that centers around the theory put forward by many, and most recently by Michelle Alexander (who appears in the movie), that mass incarceration has become "The New Jim Crow." That is, since the rise of the drug war and the explosion of the prison population, and because discretion within the system allows for arrest and prosecution of people of color at alarmingly higher rates than whites, prisons and criminal penalties have become a new version of Jim Crow. Much of the discrimination that was legal in the Jim Crow era is today illegal when applied to black people but perfectly legal when applied to "criminals." The problem is that through subjective choices, people of color have been targeted at significantly higher rates for stops, searches, arrests, prosecution, and harsher sentences. So, where does this leave criminal justice?

Through interviews with people on many sides of the criminal justice system, this documentary aims to answer questions and provoke questions on an issue walled-off from the public's scrutiny.
http://brokenonallsides.com/getdvd.php

Doors open at 7 pm; films begin at 7:30 pm; a discussion follows the film.
Films shown on Big Screen with Surround Sound
at
ACCOTINK UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
10215 Lakehaven Court
Burke, Virginia 22015
703-503-4579
www.accotinkuuc.org , administrator@accotinkuuc.org

This is a non-religious event open to the public

Is one month for black history enough? Are you white? Watch this movie! Share.

uu_mom — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 06:33:10 GMT

How did the Irish and German become "white"? Do you think about yourself as white if you check "white" on surveys? Do you think about your race?

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Communicate! Record. Videotape racial attacks. Improve #princegeorges #pgcounty

uu_mom — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 19:36:28 GMT

Communicate! Record. If something like what is portrayed in this video (link goes to article but ebedded video should be below) happens in Prince George's County, please let us know. Comment to @PrinceGeorgians on Twitter or to this blog or on Facebook. The public needs to be aware. I know we used to have these problems, but I hope the police are doing much better here - they say they are, but here's a report.

Any other kind of racism, too, could be reported to us, because we are Prince Georgians who Care. Racial oppression can come from people who are not white also. Whites can be victims of racial discrimination/harassment, though it's not really oppression (which the word "racism" means) if the person who's doing it, or the people who have control over the person doing it, doesn't have more power than the white victim (see "The Myth of Reverse Racism").

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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Dialog on Race & Ethnicity to discuss PBS programming

uu_mom — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:33:30 GMT

This Fri. night's discussion will include the topics addressed in the PBS series: The African Americans. There's a short video of one part here.

A Dialog on Race and Ethnicity (ADORE) - Optional potluck at 6:30 pm - Discussion begins at 7:30 pm at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church in Camp Springs, Prince George's County, Maryland this Fri. night, hosted by Dr. Chris Bell. Open to all. Free.

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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“Coming To The Table” a new model for talking about race and anti-black racism

uu_mom — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:04:26 GMT

Coming to Camp Springs, MD just north of Clinton and east of Ft. Washington. See directions here.

“Coming To The Table” – Karen Branan

September 29 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Coming To The Table (CTTT) run by Eastern Mennonite University is a new model for talking about race and anti-black racism. Karen Branan, a DC resident, has been a member of CTTT since 2006. While writing a book about a Georgia lynching carried out by members of her family, she discovered that she was kin to one of the men lynched and many other black people.

While seeking out their descendants as well as descendants of people enslaved by her family, Karen Branan discovered CTTT and found it to be a wonderful resource and support group. She is a long-time investigative journalist. Her work has appeared in many national magazines and newspapers; she has also made television documentaries. Her book “The Family Tree: A Kinship Lynching in Jim Crow Georgia” will be published next year by Simon & Schuster.

Our History is More Important Than a Lot of People Know #MarchOnWashington

uu_mom — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 15:59:06 GMT

As I'm watching the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, I'm remembered about how important history is to us. Our nation's history and our personal history, beside much further back - how it affects us personally without our even knowing or being aware of it.

When you were born, why you were born, the circumstances of your conception were related to your parents' upbringing which were dependent on their circumstances.

Fred Jealous just spoke at the rally. On Wikipedia, it says:

His father, Fred Jealous, from New England, is the Founder and President of the Breakthrough Men's Community and participated in Baltimore sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters. It was illegal for them to get married in Maryland until 1967; therefore the couple had to marry in Washington before returning to Baltimore.

This history affected a lot of people even if they weren't aware of it. Can you imagine that it's only been a little more than 50 years since interracial marriage was legal. And that wasn't just in Maryland, it was more recent that that law went into effect.

Now Marcia Fudge is speaking. She's the first woman and first African-American elected mayor in her town of Warrensville Heights suburb of Cleveland in 2000 and now she's the Congress representative to Ohio.

50 years ago there were only 5 black Congress representations and now there are 45. It is great progress, though there's still a big gap in disparity between black and white, which also affects other races and ethnicities.

I was watching a movie recently, a scifi about a "future" of a country that was a military state. It was like a race riot, but it was mixed race. Angela Bassett played a leading role. But it was made in 1995 about the eve of the "new millenium" (2000) - more than 13 years ago. People don't forecast the future well.

We can look at the past and reflect at how it made us who we are today and listen to the horrors of what the future might be, but we don't have to let that happen. We can help to make the future more like what we want it to be.

Corey Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ, is now speaking:

You've got to stand up, people stood for you. You got to stand up. Don't let me ever hear you complain about what is, I want to see you working for what can be.

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See: News about Racial Issues in Prince George's Co. click here.

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"A Butler in the White House" & Eugene Allen, the actual butler

uu_mom — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:12:18 GMT

Prince George's Suite Magazine has a review of the movie, "Lee Daniels' The Butler" called "A Butler in the White House" this week. The bottom line of the review says, "This film is an education and a reminder to all of us that the goal of achieving parity was and is an effort that requires sacrifice on the part of all Americans. The movie also is a celebration of those folks who took stands and faced danger in order to make a better life for all of us."

The movie was inspired by the life of Eugene Allen, though it is fictionalized. Wikipedia, at this time, erroneous says "died at the Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Prince George County, Maryland". Takoma Park hasn't been in this county since 1997 and Eugene Allen died in 2010. I'm sure he came here periodically, though, since he flew on Airforce One. There's a two-page biography on biography.com. Here's a brief interview of him before he died from the Smithsonian: