Our occasional e-newsletter, usually published once or twice a month, with links to events, articles, videos, websites, & more relating to racism & racial justice.
RACIAL JUSTICE RISING’S ACTIVITIES
Free monthly programs
Saturday, October 7, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking The Domination Code
A film by Dakota filmmaker Sheldon Wolfchild, followed by a discussion facilitated by Strong Oak.
Weaving together oral and written history and traditional Dakota beliefs, this film explains the history of US Supreme Court decisions which created legal dominion over non-Christian people and are the basis of our federal Indian laws and policies to this day.
Film screening will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Strong Oak. for more info
October 9, 19, and 28: RJR Reading Circles: The Harvest, Brown vs. Board, North and South

Three reading circles in October, facilitated by Mel Ptacek, PhD. Join us for one, two, or all three.
Monday, October 9, 2017, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 19, 2017, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 28, 2017, 2-3:30 p.m.
110 N. Hillside Rd, South Deerfield (in the Deerfield Business Center building) – parking available
Sponsored by Racial Justice Rising & Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle Intertribal Council
We will examine the history and continuing effects of our nation’s failed efforts to achieve racially integrated public schools. Discussions will focus on the aftereffects of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, in which the US Supreme Court struck down the “separate but equal” standard in education and other areas of American life.
Each circle will discuss different short readings as we explore the complex and shifting legacy of this difficult and sometimes violent attempt to achieve racial integration across the United States.
This project is a collaboration with MassHumanities’ statewide initiative, The Harvest: Brown v Board, North & South.
See our event page for more information.
To learn more, please contact RJR at email@racialjusticerising.org or Mel (the circle facilitator) at website@racialjusticerising.org.
Saturday, November 4, 2017: Indigenous Grandmothers
More info to come
Saturday, December 2, 2017: Racism and Religion
More info to come
Photos, video, and links from recent RJR programs
– Organizing for Education Justice, August 26 with Marianna Islam
– Voices of Dissent, Music of Activism, September 2 with Gloria Matlock, Adam Matlock, Licia Sky, Arjuna Greist, and Marcia Gomes
Info and photos from other past RJR programs here
Videos of our programs and more on Racial Justice Rising’s YouTube channel
Vigil for Racial Justice

“Do Black Lives Matter To You?”
Please join us.
Every Saturday, 9-10
on the Greenfield Common
Sponsored by Racial Justice Rising
and the
Visioning Bear Circle Intertribal Coalition
OTHER GROUPS’ EVENTS
Friday, September 15, Boston MA: Book talk with David Billings, organized by the Haymarket People’s Fund
Saturday, September 16, Springfield MA: Native American Intertribal Flag Raising
Saturday, September 16, Boston MA: Resist Deportations! Defend DACA!
Sunday, September 17, Keene NH: Shadows Fall North, a documentary film, with discussion facilitated by JerriAnne Boggis
Sunday, September 17, Florence MA: Resistance: Fugitive Slave Act 1850-Immigrant Detention 2017
Thursday, September 21, Chicago: Building Racial Equity Training with Race Forward
September 22-24, Amherst MA: Undoing Racism Workshop with the People’s Institute For Training and Beyond. For more info or for more info Registration form
Saturday, September 23, Brattleboro VT: The Root Social Justice Center’s 4th Birthday Party
Sunday, September 24, Amherst MA: An Evening With Ron Chisom of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, organized by UROC
Tuesday, September 26, Amherst MA: Video with discussion: Interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter
Saturday, September 30, Washington DC: March for Racial Justice
Sunday, October 1, Holyoke MA: March for Racial Justice, in solidarity with Washington march, organized by MERJ
Wednesday, October 18, Northampton MA: Conversation with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Thursday, October 19, Washington DC: Building Racial Equity Training with Race Forward
Wednesday, October 25, Springfield MA: The Half Life Of Freedom: Race and Justice in America with Jelani Cobb
Saturday, November 4, Washington DC: White People Marching for Black Lives
Email us your announcements of racial justice-related events and we will include in our listings if possible
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.
Racial Justice Rising
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