The Richmond Pledge to End Racism has launched a new monthly newsletter in an effort to help us maintain and build upon our pledge commitments.  (In case you missed it, here's a link to February's.)

If you only want to be updated about Richmond area Living the Pledge related activities (upcoming workshops, facilitator training, reunions, etc.) and do not wish to receive this monthly newsletter, you can update your profile.  If you are not interested in receiving this newsletter or any updates or requests from the Richmond Pledge to End Racism, you can unsubscribe to all email communication.

We hope this newsletter will be helpful.  We welcome your suggestions and feedback.

March 2020

Upcoming Events

Panel Conversation on White Fragility

• Monday, March 2 | 7:00 pm
• First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave

The Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville, Pastor at First Baptist Church, and David Bailey, founder of Arrabon, a non-profit focusing on racial reconciliation, are co-hosting a panel discussion that will center around Robin DiAngelo’s book, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.  It is not necessary to have read it prior to this community discussion, which is free and open to the public. The Pledge to End Racism will have a table at the event.  Learn more.
 

Cleanup Day at East End Cemetery

• Saturday, March 14 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

As part of a series of events sponsored by the Koinonia School of Race and Justice entitled Unearthing Buried Stories: Memory, activism, commemoration & the African American experience, Richmond Hill is sponsoring a Cemetery Restoration volunteer day at East End Cemetery. We will begin and end our day at Richmond Hill, giving time and space to process the work of cemetery restoration.
 

Richmond Black Restaurant Experience

• March 1-8, 2020
• Various Downtown Restaurants

The Richmond Black Restaurant Experience is a celebratory week dedicated to supporting Richmond’s black-owned restaurants, caterers, food truck/cart operators, etc. and promoting the Richmond region's growing culinary tourism scene. It aims to counter economic disparity within Minority-Owned businesses with fun and interactive solutions that engage, excite, and ignite a deeper understanding and love of Richmond food culture.  Like and follow on Facebook or learn more about this year's participating restaurants on their website.
 

The Paradox Of Liberty: Slavery At Jefferson’s Monticello

• January 18 - April 18
• Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia

BHMVA is proud to partner with Monticello as part of the national tour of The Paradox of Liberty: Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello. The exhibition will inform visitors about the specifics of slavery – a subject too often avoided or given superficial attention – to initiate and facilitate conversations about the history of slavery and racial attitudes in Richmond, Virginia and across the nation.  Learn more.

Race In the News

Pro-Gun Groups and the Lust for White Power by Jamar Boyd (Sojourners, January 31, 2020) - Jamar A. Boyd II is a second-year seminarian at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

Descendents by Nicole Ellis (Washington Post, February 25, 2020 ) - A four-part video series on African-Americans' quest to identify their roots.  Episode 4, "The Lost Cause: How a propaganda campaign to minimize slavery’s role in the civil war became American history," focuses on Richmond.

BLM's #WhatMatters2020  - BLM Global Network recently launched #WhatMatters2020, a campaign seeking to galvanize BLM supporters and allies to the polls in the 2020 U.S Presidential Election, to build collective power and ensure candidates are held accountable for the issues that systematically and disproportionately impact Black and under-served communities across the nation.

Living the Pledge Workshop News

If you've already participated in a Living the Pledge workshop, please share this information with your friends, family, and co-workers as part of your commitment to living the Pledge.

• March 28 & April 4, 2020 - Richmond Hill, 2209 E Grace St, Richmond ($55, includes lunch both days; scholarships available) 
• August 8 & 22, 2020 - First Unitarian Universalist, 1000 Blanton Ave, Richmond
• October 10 & 24, 2020 - First Unitarian Universalist, 1000 Blanton Ave, Richmond