A Call
We call on the USA to prepare for and observe the 400th Anniversary of the first arrival of Africans in Jamestown in 1619. That event marked the beginning of the codification of inequality in law and custom – the absolute opposite of what we eventually wrote in our Declaration of Independence, but chillingly present in the Constitution which declared that slaves would be counted as 3/5’s of a person.
Nearly 400 years of division have created an apartheid society: we need a new social infrastructure to carry us through the challenges of climate change, decaying physical infrastructure, rapidly evolving jobs, underperforming schools, uneven access to health care and lack of affordable housing.
What we need is to move from inequality to equality, from some people being counted as 3/5’s to all being counted as 5/5s. Starting now, we can prepare for the anniversary by deepening our understanding of our history, and then building new coalitions to work across divides to define and address our common needs.
We propose that we all prepare for and observe this anniversary.
400 Years of Inequality: Read, Organize, Observe, Contribute!
The history we learned in school often left out or mis-represented the story of inequality and the long people’s fight for equality. In order to plan the observances of the anniversary in 2019, we need to revisit the past and learn about efforts to win freedom and equality. Our starter kit {link} will help get you and your team on your way.
We suggest:
1) READ THESE BOOKS:
2) ORGANIZE A TEAM
3) OBSERVE THE 400th ANNIVERSARY, OCTOBER 12-18, 2019
4) CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE’S PLATFORM
Please join us!
Nearly 400 years of division have created an apartheid society: we need a new social infrastructure to carry us through the challenges of climate change, decaying physical infrastructure, rapidly evolving jobs, underperforming schools, uneven access to health care and lack of affordable housing.
What we need is to move from inequality to equality, from some people being counted as 3/5’s to all being counted as 5/5s. Starting now, we can prepare for the anniversary by deepening our understanding of our history, and then building new coalitions to work across divides to define and address our common needs.
We propose that we all prepare for and observe this anniversary.
400 Years of Inequality: Read, Organize, Observe, Contribute!
The history we learned in school often left out or mis-represented the story of inequality and the long people’s fight for equality. In order to plan the observances of the anniversary in 2019, we need to revisit the past and learn about efforts to win freedom and equality. Our starter kit {link} will help get you and your team on your way.
We suggest:
1) READ THESE BOOKS:
- Read out loud selections from Voices of a People’s History.
- While creating the TIMELINE, we observed that great progress in the fight against inequality has been achieved by coalitions. We hope you see the same history when you and members of your team review the timeline [insert link here]. Here are two books that show how coalitions are organized and how they work:
- Read Homebody Came to Orange: A Story of People’s Power to learn how a small black community developed a platform for city improvement, won political power and improved the lives of all.
- Read William Barber II's book The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement to learn how fusing the power of many small movements can fight inequality.
2) ORGANIZE A TEAM
- Ask any four or five friends, co-workers, members of your congregation -- anyone you like -- to be on your 400 Years of Inequality Team.
- A team is a great help in organizing an anniversary observation. A team should discuss its values, rules and norms, and hopes for the future. Teams are fun.
- The observance you plan will reflect your local story and your values! Reviewing the timeline together and reading and discussing the books will help you decide how best to mark the anniversary.
3) OBSERVE THE 400th ANNIVERSARY, OCTOBER 12-18, 2019
- An observance can be anything you like: a performance of Voices of a People’s History, an exhibit, a tree planting, a citywide potluck, a concert.
- Share what you do with other teams via our website or social media, #Remember Jamestown.
- The University of Orange, a founding partner of 400 Years of Inequality, has a mission to record and share the history of Orange, NJ, “the most historic city in the US.” You can explore their website, Hidden Treasures of Orange, to get ideas for your own observance.
4) CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE’S PLATFORM
- What have you learned about our history? What do you think will help our nation move beyond inequality?
Please join us!
Would you like to host a two-hour workshop to launch your “Remember Jamestown” observance?
Would you like to be on a list for our Starter Kit, premiering in October 2018?
Would you like to receive our newsletter?
Key Dates:
October 12-18, 2018, Preparing for the Anniversary
The New School Curriculum Disruption
Starter Kits Launched
January 1, 2019 “400 -- You’re Invited!” The observance of 400 Years of Inequality begins.
March 15, 2019 “Slave Ships Conference” at The New School
October 12-18, 2019, Remember Jamestown
Would you like to be on a list for our Starter Kit, premiering in October 2018?
Would you like to receive our newsletter?
Key Dates:
October 12-18, 2018, Preparing for the Anniversary
The New School Curriculum Disruption
Starter Kits Launched
January 1, 2019 “400 -- You’re Invited!” The observance of 400 Years of Inequality begins.
March 15, 2019 “Slave Ships Conference” at The New School
October 12-18, 2019, Remember Jamestown