Monday, January 28, 2008

Wednesday, February 6: Library Hosts Racism Movie & Discussion

The community is invited to attend a free screening in the "Coming Together Racine" series of films and discussions about racism and race relations at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

This month's film, directed by Spike Lee in 1989, follows the events that arise during the hottest day of the year in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, a predominately African American neighborhood. Tensions grow among area residents and a local business called Sal's Pizzeria when local patrons ask Sal to include African Americans on his entirely Italian Wall of Fame. The cast includes veteran actors Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, Rosie Perez and John Turturro and features some of the 1980's greatest hip hop music. A member of Coming Together Racine will facilitate a discussion of the movie after the screening. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag supper. No registration is necessary. The series is cosponsored by Coming Together Racine and the Racine Public Library and is funded by the library's Alma Boernke Endowment Fund.

Coming Together Racine is a 501(c)3 organization developed in response to community needs identified at a Town Hall Meeting on February 25, 2005. At the event it was determined that a greater effort is needed in the Racine community to eliminate the barriers preventing equal voice and access to community resources. In response to the results from the Town Hall Meeting a community-wide committee, The Committee to Eliminate Racism, was formed. In September 2005, after assessing the Racine community's needs, the Committee to Eliminate Racism submitted an application to become an affiliate of the Coming Together Project, and in February 2006 was approved as Coming Together Racine.

Coming Together Racine will work to:
  • Promote racial harmony in the community;

  • Educate community members on racism and its effects on people and the community; and

  • Bring people together to foster awareness and appreciation of people of all cultures.

To achieve these goals the Committee will provide opportunities for members of the Racine community to dialogue, explore, learn, and strategize around racism. This movie is one of a series of events designed to engage Racine in discussion.

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