Black Voices Series Resources
sponsored by the Adult Ed Committee
First Congregational Church of Ashfield UCC

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Welcome to the Black Voices Series

The Adult Education Committee has completed three sets of presentations in our Black Voices series. This spring, we are looking to again present information in a more educational vein with discussions. We're currently regrouping for the new year and will announce our next series when we have firmed up our plans.

We want to thank everyone who has attended so far. On this page, we are providing links to the videos that we presented in our recent film series.

Black Voices Film Series

Our church hosted a series of feature films this fall with FREE POPCORN! The first film will be on Thursday, September 28 with Hidden Figures, an award winning movie that follows the true story of three African American women who worked at NASA as human “computers” before the use of electronic computers. They processed aeronautic data during the space race. The 2016 film stars Taraji Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Moráe, Kevin Costner, and others. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Spencer), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie is rated PG and will begin at 6:30 pm.
 
On Thursday, October 26, also at 6:30 pm, we viewed Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do The Right Thing. The story explores a Brooklyn, NY, neighborhood where racial tensions between African American residents and Italian-American owners of a local pizzeria culminate in a violent confrontation on a hot summer day. The film has been selected by the National Film Registry for preservation, and the Library of Congress has deemed it “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.” It stars Spike Lee, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Danny Aiello, Richard Edson, Samuel L. Jackson, and others. It was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Aiello). It is rated R.
 
On Thursday, November 30, we viewed Fences, directed by Denzel Washington in 2016 with a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from his play by the same name. It is a story about a family in Pittsburgh in the 1950s that is dealing with feelings of being taken for granted, living with choices, facing death, and forgiveness. It stars Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, and others. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Davis), Best Actor (Washington), and Best Adapted Screenplay. Davis won an Oscar for her performance. It is rated PG13. It will begin at 6:30 pm.
 
We welcome everybody to join us for these feature films. For over a year we have been exploring Black Voices, listening to and learning more about African American history and culture. This series will inspire us to continue our journey of discovery and understanding. All of the movies and popcorn are free! Please join us.
Adult Ed Team: Rev. David, Annie Cheatham, Ann Gibson, Sherrill Hogen, Virginia Wiswell

                         Links to Videos

March 23, 2023

Backs Against the Wall: the Howard Thurman Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVl_irB59lM,
56:52 min.

April 20, 2023

I Am Not Your Negro, a documentary about James Baldwin. Unfortunately, the link we used is no longer available. You can watch it for free with your public library card at https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/i-am-not-your-negro.  It is also available on several streaming services including Amazon Prime.
1h 33 min.

May 18, 2023

Why White Supremacy is a Threat to America: TEDx talk by James Ford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8ckQB0Zy2o, 26:22 min.

Loretta J. Ross: Don't call people out -- call them in, TED talk by Loretta J. Ross.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw_720iQDss,
14:18 min.

June 15, 2023

An Interview with the Founders of Black Lives Matter: Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi,
TED talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbicAmaXYtM,
16:05 min.

What white people can do to move race conversations forward, TEDx talk by Dr. Caprice Hollins.
https://tedxseattle.com/talks/caprice-hollins-what-white-people-can-do-to-move-race-conversations-forward/,
15:36 min.

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