Our occasional e-newsletter, usually published once or twice a month, with links to events, articles, videos, websites, & more relating to racism & racial justice.
We are excited to share this video about RJR with you!
It’s part of our Valley Gives fundraising campaign – you’ll hear more from us about this soon.
Racial Justice Rising’s activities:
Our FREE monthly programs are held at the First Congregational Church of Greenfield, 43 Silver Street, almost always on the first Saturday morning of the month.
Free childcare by reservation.
For more info: email@racialjusticerising.org or www.racialjusticerising.org
Have You Seen My Childhood?
Understanding Grief in Adopted Children, with a focus on transracial adoptions
With Carmen R. Smith, CRC, RMHCI, RMFTI
Saturday, May 6, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
RESCHEDULED:
Racial Justice In The Courts: Does It Exist?
Saturday, April 27, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Join Racial Justice Rising and Attorney Buz Eisenberg for a presentation on the racial inequities of our criminal justice system. Attorney Eisenberg is well known for his work with prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and his courses on law and government at GCC, as well as his local law practice.
Save the date:
The Real Story of American History, My Story Not His Story
Saturday, June 3, 2017
with Naimah Muhammad and Kathleen Anderson
Learn about some of our past programs here
See videos of our programs and more on Racial Justice Rising’s YouTube channel
New: video of our March program, Spoken Word: An Art With A History
Vigil For Racial Justice

Every Saturday, 9-10 on the Greenfield Common
Please join us!
Sponsored by Racial Justice Rising and the Visioning Bear Circle Intertribal Council
Articles, websites, and other resources
Black/African American
– Take The Pledge, Protect Black Girls, a petition at Organizefor.com
– George Washington’s Biracial Family, by Danny Lewis at the Smithsonian
– Black Lives of UU Urges Adoption Of 8th Principle by Black Lives UU at Medium.com
– An Entire Black Community Was Destroyed To Build Central Park, by Healther Gilligan at Timeline
General/Other
– How To Think Differently About Diversity in Nonprofit Leadership: Get Comfortable with Discomfort, by Sean Thomas-Brighfield at NonProfit Quarterly
– A resource list from Coming To the Table – books, films, etc.
Health
– Racism Is A Scourge On the Public’s Health, by Ellen Isaacs at MultiRacial Unity
Immigration
– Migrant Justice/Justicia Migrante
– A historical perspective: Brave Hearts, When Lowell Was A Sanctuary City for Fugitive Slaves, by Robert Forrant at WBUR
– First Protected DREAMer Deported Under Trump, from USA Today
– Immigrant Rights Action Ends in Three Arrests, from Colorlines
Indigenous
– New Totem Pole Memorializes Boarding School Victims and Survivors, from CBC News
Law
– Texas Voter ID Law Intentionally Discriminates, by Manny Fernandez at the New York Times
– If you’re Black/Why cops shoot, from the Tampa Herald
Whiteness
– Whites Only: SURJ And The Caucasian Invasion Of Racial Justice Spaces by Didi Delgado at The Establishment
– What The Woman Who Invented the Term “White Fragility” Thinks About Trump, by Alissa Greenberg at The Stranger
– When Life Hacking Is Really White Privilege, by Jen Dziura at Medium
Other groups’ events:
- Thursday, April 27, Amherst MA: Immaculate Perception, a video talk by Jeremy Kang, followed by action projects in small groups. This is part of Coming Together’s Video and Action series
- April 28-30, Kansas City MO: White Privilege Conference
- Sunday, April 30, Greenfield MA: Sanctuary In The Streets solidarity squad training
- Sunday, May 7, Great Barrington MA: Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, Exploring The Roots of Prejudice
- Thursday, May 11, Livingston NJ: The Color of Culture with Tiffany Taylor Smith and Debbie Irving
- Saturday, May 13, Greenfield MA: All Souls UU Church’s 15th annual Antiracism Film Festival
- Saturday, May 20, Greenfield MA: Walking the Talk For Racial Justice, A Youth Conference
- June 5-30, Amherst MA: Institute for Transforming Social Justice
- Through September 2017, North Adams MA: Mass MOCA Exhibit Wants You To Do More Than Just Talk About Race and Violence
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. We share a vision of a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-faith community.
Our mission is to:
● Help build the movement for racial justice by contributing to a deeper understanding of systemic racism and racial justice.
● Engage in restorative activities that help to heal the racial divide and bring justice for people targeted by racism.
While much of our work is focused in our local area, Franklin County, MA, we reach out to and are connected with the broader movements in our region and the nation.
Thank you, readers who send us information for these newsletters! We welcome links to articles, videos, event listings, and other resources.
Shen
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