NewsNight Conversations: A Question of Race: Answers for Kids
Experts in child psychology, social justice and education discuss how to talk to children about racism, current events stemming from George Floyd's death and raising the next generation to be advocates for themselves and others.

Featuring:

• Rudy Darden, Valencia College Peace and Justice Institute Facilitator and Professor of English
• Kimberly Renk, Ph.D., UCF Associate Professor of Psychology
• Ann Shillingford-Butler, Ph.D., UCF Associate Professor of Counselor Education.

WUCF Statement:

• WUCF Addresses Racism

WUCF News:

• WUCF to Address Race and Racism with Special Programming

Race Matters: Talking to Children About Race:

• WUCF Resources for Talking to Children About Race

Book Lists & Articles:

• Adult Books About Race

Panel Discussion: Reflections on Harbor from the Holocaust

Watch this recorded Zoom panel discussion on the new PBS documentary Harbor from the Holocaust, which chronicles the story of nearly 20,000 Jewish refugees who fled Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, to the Chinese port city of Shanghai. Hear a multi-generational discussion of the extraordinary relationship of these Jews and their adopted city of Shanghai, and the lessons of empathy and action that we can apply today. Speakers featured:

• Violet Du Feng, Director, Harbor from the Holocaust
• Joanie Holzer Schirm, Author, My Dearest Boy
• Sigmund Tobias, Survivor, featured in Harbor from the Holocaust
• Frank Xu, Manager of Languages and Literature, Brooklyn Library and Shanghai historian

This discussion took place in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida.

A Question of Race: Answers for Kids -- Virtual Q&A with the Experts

Following up on our NewsNight Conversations special, we invited you to ask our experts in child psychology, social justice and education your questions about talking to children (from birth upwards) about racism, current events stemming from George Floyd's death and raising the next generation to be advocates for themselves and others.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Watch the recording of the event below.

We are a country in crisis. America is grappling with the impact of racism, past and present, in our communities. What do you want to happen in this moment? How do you hope it will change America, your community, and yourself?

There is now a new prompt to help provide a safe platform for people to share stories about what they’re feeling or experiencing: "Now is the time..." Share how you feel, visitwucf.org/americanportrait

What we are living through is one more part of the American experience. And American Portrait would not be complete without your voice in it.

The Peace and Justice Institute at Valencia College promotes peace and justice for all. Their aim is to nurture an inclusive, caring and respectful environment on campus and within our community - one where conflict leads to growth and transformation, rather than violence or aggression.

Visit their website to find out about community race conversations that they will be hosting in the coming weeks. Learn more here.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida is hosting a series of virtual events called Strategies for Action. These discussions will help attendees examine systemic racism in an effort to promote unity, learning, and conversations for change in their community. *Note: All events are held from 12 - 1 p.m.

• Sept. 2: Implicit Bias with Rachel Luce-Hitt
• Sept. 14: Building Emotional Bravery with Jenny Susser
• Sept. 30: Your Voice, Your Power, Your Vote! with Denise Burton

Register for the events here: holocaustedu.org/events

• The Talk – Race in America
• Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise on American Masters
• The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution on Independent Lens
• Winnie on Independent Lens
• Tell Them We Are Rising on Independent Lens
• Rat Film on Independent Lens
• John Lewis: Get in the Way
• Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise
• Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
• The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
• Policing the Police on Frontline

Juneteenth: Justice, Freedom and Democracy

On Friday, June 19, six leading Black museums and historical institutions from coast to coast joined forces to launch BLKFREEDOM.org, a digital commemoration of Juneteenth, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation was officially enforced, ending enslavement in Texas.

This timely event featured cultural performances from Africa and across America, educational content and appearances by:

• Lonnie G. Bunch III, the first African American and first historian to serve as the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
• Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, anthropologist, educator, museum director and the first female African American president of Spelman College
• The Honorable Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library

The launch of BLKFREEDOM.org commemorates the 155th Anniversary of Juneteenth, which dates back to June 19, 1865, when union soldier, Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with the news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This announcement was more than two and half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

BLKFREEDOM.org is a combined effort between Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit, MI), Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park (Hilton Head Island, SC), Northwest African American Museum (Seattle, WA), Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater (Miami, FL), National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (Cincinnati, OH), and the National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis, TN).

Through educational content, artistic performances and shareable discussion prompts, this collaborative program will explore the meaning and relevance of “freedom”, “justice” and “democracy” in Black American life, from a historical and contemporary framework.