Preparing for Our Next All-Society Platform

We have had seven All-Society Platform meetings since our first one in October of 2020 and the series has been a nice addition to the AEU’s program offerings. I especially like that the meetings are planned by volunteers – usually representing a number of Ethical Societies – and are funded by contributions from our members and friends. These gatherings provide a wonderful opportunity to put our creative juices to work and to join forces in bringing ideas from their communities for all to appreciate.

Our next All-Society Platform, “W.E.B. Du Bois: Will the Truth Set You Free?”, is just a few weeks away on January 30^th and I’m greatly looking forward to it. Susan Solomon of the Ethical Society of Northern Westchester, Carolyn Parker of the Ethical Society of Austin, Taty Sena of the Brooklyn Society For Ethical Culture, and Joanna Brandt of the Baltimore Ethical Society have volunteered to plan and host the event, which brings together historic and current efforts to address institutional racism.

Special thanks to Carolyn Parker who found the text of an address given by Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on February 7, 1949. We will have an opportunity to revisit Dr. Du Bois’ call to face facts about enslavement and racism and to acknowledge the contributions of people of African descent.

Dr. Du Bois ‘ words pertain especially to the resolution passed at the  AEU Assembly in 2017, “Toward Repairing the Harm of Racism” which states: “Therefore, we affirm efforts to study the lasting effects of the heritage of enslavement and racial discrimination especially on living African Americans, but also on other people of color, and on American society as a whole. We also affirm efforts to study ways that such lasting negative effects can be repaired, and to be involved in actions to repair such effects.”

The timeliness of Dr. Du Bois’ words are, for me, reminders of the many barriers facing those who would work to undo the harms of systemic racism and help create and sustain a more equitable society.

I hope you will join us on Zoom on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 11:00 am Eastern Time for “W.E.B. Du Bois: Will the Truth Set You Free?”

Zoom Info: 

Join by computer, tablet or smartphone: https://bit.ly/All-SocietyPlatform

Join by phone: Meeting ID 891 9333 5697

Here’s What’s Happening This Week:

1619 Project Community Listening & Dialogue with Louise Jett

The New York Times Sunday Magazine’s “1619 Project” edition in 2019 prompted a lot of interest in the history of the Black experience in the United States as well as some criticism. Originated by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The 1619 Project is ongoing and a number of additional resources are now available. The Pulitzer Center has published a 1619 Project Curriculum, the New York Times has published a book version, and there is a podcast series, too.

Louise Jett, a Leader-in-training with the AEU and the Social Media Manager for the Ethical Society of St. Louis, will be offering a Community Listening and Dialogue series that will offer people an opportunity to explore the 1619 Project podcasts. These sessions are open to all at no charge on Tuesday evenings, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on Zoom.

To participate, listen to the podcast episode at your convenience then join the conversation on Zoom. You don’t need to restrict yourself to listening to the podcasts and can find the interactive version of the NYT Magazine edition here. 

Here are the upcoming dates for the series:

Jan 11th, Episode 2: The Economy That Slavery Built

Jan 18th, Episode 3: The Birth of American Music

Jan 25th, Episode 4: How the Bad Blood Started

Feb 1st, Episode 5: The Land of Our Fathers, Parts One and Two

While everyone is encouraged to listen to the thought-provoking podcast episode before the session, you do not need to have listened to it before attending the community conversations. 

If you need help listening to the podcast or exploring any of the other 1619 materials, please contact Louise Jett at ljett@aeu.org.

Zoom Info:

Join by computer, tablet or smartphone: https://bit.ly/1619CommunityListening 

Join by phone: Meeting ID 881 6672 9429

Thank you,

Bart