Tom Graves at Caritas

The next session of Racism to Reconciliation: Arts & Culture

NEW SESSION!

R2R Arts & Culture Session 2 , April 3 - May 22

Caritas House | 2532 Everett | Tuesdays, 6 – 8pm

Except where indicated by an asterisk (*) details to be provided.

The next session of Racism to Reconciliation: Arts & Culture starts Tuesday, April 3rd! Registration will remain open until April 3rd or until the class size of 12 has been reached.

 

Time Sensitive Info: Registration by March 5th is required for those class participants who wish to take part in our visit to the Prison Stories class on Monday, April 16th at 6pm. (This will be in addition to the regular Tuesday class meeting that week). The early registration is necessary because background checks need to be conducted in advance of visiting the prison.

If you have questions, please feel free to write or call: bmsarden@hotmail.com or 901.281.2810 There is no fee for this (or any other) class at Memphis School of Servant Leadership

ABOUT THE COURSE

In Racism to Reconciliation: Arts & Culture, we use various forms of creative expression, including visual arts, theatre, music, food and film to: 1) Inform our search for relevant, meaningful understandings of racism, power, privilege, cultural identity, and marginalization; to reveal how these manifest in this community and our personal lives; 2) Guide the development of models for reconciliation that reflect the insight and energy of our unique culture, and the wisdom of our experience; 3) Encourage thoughtful, non-judgmental communication in the context of this class and beyond

 

SESSION 2 CLASSES & ACTIVITIES

Food, Memory, CultureIt’s a potluck dinner with a twist: Make/bring a dish to share that has meaning to you, something that tells a little bit about your life and where you’re from.

Variations on a ThemeAssignment. Choose from a wide selection of short articles, videos, images, poems, ads and more that have implications of race, cultural identity or marginalization. Spend some time reflecting on the materials and share your thoughts and feelings with the class.

Romeo & Juliet* The R2R Arts & Culture Class is invited to attend Hattiloo Theatre's production of Romeo & Juliet.

Hip Hop, Race & Religion

Andre E. Johnson, PhD is the Dr. James L. Netters Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Religion and African-American Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary where he teaches classes in prophetic rhetoric, black church, African-American theology, rhetoric and religion, pulpit rhetoric, race, and hip hop theology.

The Women of Prison Stories* (Monday, April 16th @ 6pm)

The Prison Stories Project is an outreach program of Voices of the South. It provides a year-long writing and theatre-intensive program for women currently serving time in the Shelby County Prison System. The R2R Arts & Culture class participants will visit the prison to meet the current class of women whose writings are the source material for the Prison Stories performances at TheatreSouth.

The Transformative Power of StoryJoann Self Selvidge, True Story Pictures

Phil Darius Wallace, Actor

Virginia Murphy, Playback Memphis

Wendi C. Thomas, Journalist

To Ask A Question
Before we can "speak truth to power" we must find the courage to ask hard questions. We will identify questions about race and identity that we might as of those with whom we are in relationship, if not to find answers, then to make known what is important to us.

Talking Back

In-class workshop. Respond to selected text, quotes or facts that refer to or may imply themes of race, power, privilege, marginalization, and reconciliation. Those who wish to share their writing with the group will have the opportunity to do so.

Born Into Brothels (documentary)

A portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Zana Briski, a New York-based photograper, living in the brothels and documenting life there, decides to teach them photography. This session meets at the home of Brooke Sarden, class facilitator.

 

Racism and Reconciliation in Pictures

Ongoing assignment, open to all Racism to Reconciliation participants, past and present. Photographs will be shared at the end of Session 2. Special thanks to Fred Terry and Stephanie Miller.