Racial Justice Rising is a small, all-volunteer racial justice organization based in Franklin County, Massachusetts.
The members of Racial Justice Rising are ordinary people who are troubled by the persistent racism that plagues this country. Believing that the damage caused by racism must be repaired before our society can be whole, we work for just and respectful treatment for all.
While much of our work is focused in our local area, we reach out to and are connected with the broader movements in our region and the nation.
The members of Racial Justice Rising believe that:
- White people created racism to rationalize and justify the results of colonization: genocide, enslavement of free peoples, destruction of Indigenous societies around the world, and other inhuman behavior.
- White supremacy is the cornerstone of racism.
- Racism is one of the primary tools of social control in the U.S. and world-wide, embedded in economic, housing, education, judicial, healthcare, and other systems, and in civic and interpersonal relations.
- Racism, which can manifest as internalized racial superiority in perpetrators or internalized racial inferiority in those targeted, causes immeasurable harm to both.
Our mission is twofold: to help build the movement for racial justice by contributing to a deeper understanding of systemic racism and racial justice, and to engage in restorative activities that help to heal the racial divide and bring justice for people targeted by racism.
Our local activities include free monthly programs.
Mass Slavery Apology, the group’s original name, is still the name of the project that started our work — our statement of apology for slavery and commitments to restorative action.
RJR supports Greenfield Racial Justice!
Click here to learn about this new group in our community.
Consider joining our new reparations group!
Interview with RJR members, WGBY Connecting Point 10/28/19
Events
See our Events page for more information.
WEEKLY VIGIL
Every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. on the Greenfield Common
FREE ON-LINE MONTHLY PROGRAMS
Our monthly program series is supported in part by grants from Amherst, Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont-Hawley, Conway, Gill, Greenfield, Heath, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Pelham, Rowe, Shelburne, Warwick, Wendell, and Whately Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Thursday, April 8, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF REPARATIONS with DR. DAVID RAGLAND
Register for this on-line event!
Download a PDF (printable version) of poster
View video of our February program, FOOD FORESTS – A 5–YEAR PLAN FOR THE HEALTH OF YOU AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT:
NOTHING STABLE UNDER HEAVEN: A Showcase of Black Art
See Events page for more information.