![]() Black Film Canon series explores Black perspective behind and in front of the camera. Friday Evenings • February 19–May 21 • 7:00 p.m. Register: http://bit.ly/ucublackfilmcanon A new online film series invites you to view and discuss films written, produced, and created by Black people. Black Film Canon 101 (BFC 101) will meet on Zoom, beginning Friday, February 19, and continuing bi-weekly (mostly) through May (February 19 and 26; March 5 and 19; April 2, 16, 30; May 7 and 21). The eight films will cover almost a full century, beginning with Oscar Michaeux’s silent film Within Our Gates, including Spike Lee’s 1979 film Do the Right Thing, and Gina Prince-Blythewood’s Love and Basketball, and ending with Ryan Couglar’s Fruitvale Station. It does not include recently released films from the last five years. Participants are asked to commit to the full series to build a deepening understanding and rapport with one another. The series begins with an introductory session and each session thereafter discusses one of eight films selected from the a list of 50 that Slate magazine has dubbed the “Black Film Canon.” The movies to be discussed bring to life not only Black suffering, slavery, and trauma, but also joy, love, and humor. Rev. Jack Gaede, from White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church and developer of BFC 101, notes: “...this isn't just a film study group, but also a chance to dig deeper into [ourselves] in the context of antiracism work. We are watching these movies … to explore and examine the concepts of race, of whiteness, of racism. We are asking people to look at the films through certain lenses, to notice whiteness and blackness and the way that those concepts are portrayed on screen. And we are especially curious about the way those portrayals have changed through time, which is why we are utilizing a chronological approach to the films that we are watching.” Becky Gonzalez-Campoy, member of Unity Church and student of social transformation at United Theological Seminary, will lead the series at Unity. Participants will view each movie on their own prior to the Zoom meeting. Class materials will include information about where to find these films (online) for viewing before each session as well as discussion questions and related resources. Films chosen in the series are available online for free or a minimal cost. If financial assistance is needed, please email [email protected]. BFC 101 is a great learning opportunity for anyone just starting their antiracism journey as well as for those who are already seasoned in this work. For those who have completed the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), this series can be a useful tool to help meet your personal growth goals. For more information please contact Becky Gonzalez-Campoy at [email protected].
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Breathe is full of stories, lessons, prayers, hopes, dreams, poetry, warnings, guidance, the terrible truth of racism in America, and above all, love. Beacon Press describes the book as “an unflinching challenge to society to see Black children as deserving of humanity.” Written as a letter to her two sons, the book is organized into three sections:
There is much to talk about here. Please join the online book discussion on February 24, at 7:00 p.m.. Registration is available here: http://bit.ly/bookreadbreathe. Discussion will include a BIPOC group, led by congregant Russel Balenger, for readers and parents who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. The book is available in the Unity Online Bookstall at unitybookstall.square.site and at your favorite local bookstore. Or contact the Library & Bookstall Team for mail order library service — a limited number of copies are available. Merrill Aldrich and Shelley Butler, on behalf of the Beloved Community Communications Team The Beloved Community Staff Team (BCST), like many of us, thought that the pandemic was our biggest challenge in 2020 but everything seemingly changed on May 25, 2020, with the killing of George Floyd. Not only did the world explode with anger and action, so did Unity Church. Within days of Mr. Floyd’s death, the BCST delivered a video statement and organized a two-night event, “#WeCantBreathe” and “Next Right Action.” With this, the team began what BCST member Erika Sanders called “the most impactful change in the past year” in establishing the Next Right Action framework.
Determined not just to hold one or two meetings and then go back to “normal,” the BCST expressed determination to continue efforts to include antiracism and multicultural work in every area of the church. Members of the BCST, the Racial and Restorative Justice Team, the Sustainability Living Team, and many other teams and congregants showed up to continue Next Right Action work. In August, Rob and Janne followed up with a “Reflecting on the Journey” session. The Racial and Restorative Justice Team created new objectives, inspired the Justice Database, and held a series of “Reimagining Public Safety: A Circle of Peace” sessions. Next, the “Finding Our Next Right Action” forum brought together representatives of many of the teams and initiatives of Unity Church and offered opportunities for members to sign up for specific work. One of the new offerings was Antiracism Literacy Partners; the team and interested congregants met again in September and November, and will meet again in February. Perhaps we, as a congregation, were able to jump into “Justice for George” because Unity has been involved in antiracism work for many years, acknowledging that we have a long way to go. Our engagement with Team Dynamics to grow our individual and collective ability to bridge the “differences that make a difference” continued in 2020, culminating in the excellent seven-part “Equity + Justice” series in the fall, in which some 200 people participated. In 2020, many individuals and key ministry teams took advantage of the opportunity to take the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and receive coaching on both the results of their inventory and their Individual Development Plan (IDP). Also, the Racial Justice Film series and the Artist in Residency program continued. With the pending departure of Lisa Friedman in spring 2020, Karen Hering and Laura Park joined the Beloved Community Staff Team and strengthened it, jumping into the work feet first. There is more but we’re out of space to list it all. Moving into its fifth year, it’s clear to see that the BCST has made great strides in strengthening and coordinating antiracism and multicultural initiatives at Unity Church, now with the ongoing support of the Helener Currier Endowment for Racial Justice. Aspirations for this year include opportunities for us to deepen involvement with our IDP, but check in next month when the BCST looks forward to the work of 2021 in greater detail. |
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Beloved Community ResourcesUnity Justice Database
Team Dynamics House of Intersectionality Anti-Racism Resources in the Unity Libraries Collection Creative Writers of Color in Unity Libraries The History of Race Relations and Unity Church, 1850-2005 Archives
June 2024
Beloved Community Staff TeamThe Beloved Community Staff Team (BCST) strengthens and coordinates Unity’s antiracism and multicultural work, and provides opportunities for congregants and the church to grow into greater intercultural competency. We help the congregation ground itself in the understanding of antiracism and multiculturalism as a core part of faith formation. We support Unity’s efforts to expand our collective capacity to imagine and build the Beloved Community. Here, we share the stories of this journey — the struggles, the questions, and the collaborations — both at Unity and in the wider world.
The current members of the Beloved Community Staff Team include Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, Rev. KP Hong, Rev. Lara Cowtan, Drew Danielson, Laura Park, Lia Rivamonte and Angela Wilcox. |