~~~ The MLK Newsletter Edition ~~~

“Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice
to the solid rock of brotherhood.”

-- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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At any CTTT-RVA gathering, virtual or in person, you can expect awesome folks and a robust serving of personal stories, with or without a shared meal. To ensure that we all leave nourished and acknowledged, we ask that you take a look at our Touchstones. These serve as a guide to progressive and constructive conversation. The Touchstones, combined with Circle Process and the guidance of trained facilitators, support the creation of brave and safe space for authentic confidential sharing where intentional listening and vulnerability are valued. When we listen deeply or when we are heard, we feel valued. YOUR STORY, shared in small bites, is like a tasty meal we never want to forget! Thank you for your presence and see you at the table! ~~ Danita Rountree Green, Co-CEO of Coming To The Table - RVA


3rd Tuesday Community Gathering via Zoom

Topic: "She's Pretty for a Black Girl"
How to Respond to Race-Based Microaggressions 
Once again, your willingness to show up from the heart and DO THE WORK and BE THE WORK of racial justice and healing, with openness, humility, love and courage is what is creating this shift point in which we are living. It takes a community of support to create lasting systemic and personal change together. We are grateful for your companionship on the journey. We are moving to our next steps on how to implement this new vision of a just and loving, healing society for our upcoming community gathering.

[Please click on the green REGISTER button below as soon as possible, as we have limited Zoom spots and we will be CLOSING registration this coming Thursday, 8/13/20 at 5:00 pm. This extra time prior to the 3rd Tuesday event gives us unharried time to arrange for diverse breakout groups and facilitator preparation based on the actual number of registrants and facilitators. Thank you in advance!]

On Tuesday, August 18th 6:30 - 8:30 pm we will explore the topic of microagressions.

"It's easy to [be aware of] the obvious racism such as using race-based slurs or threats. But there's a more subtle and insidious form of racist stereotyping that can be hard to pin down. These stereotypes often come in the form of 'microaggressions' — brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities," said Beverly Daniel Tatum, a psychologist and former Spelman College president, in an interview with CNN on June 4, 2020.

Microaggressions can be intentional or unintentional and sometimes even well-meaning. But they communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial messages or assumptions to the receiver.

The ability to even notice these often subtle instances requires educating yourself about the experiences of Black people in America and the significance behind such remarks.

Video Resources. Please watch in preparation.:

During our time together on the 18th, we'll explore ways that our White CTTT-RVA family members may be perpetrating these microaggressions without even realizing it and also, how we - as allies - can respond to others' microaggressive behaviors as we become aware of them. And our Black CTTT-RVA family members are invited to share their microagression experiences as well as those they've observed happening with loved ones and friends and how or if they responded.

Again, please REGISTER below as soon as possible, as we have limited Zoom spots and we will be CLOSING registration this coming Thursday, 8/13/20 at 5:00 pm.

“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead.
We cannot turn back.” 

-- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Coming To The Table - RVA hosts... 
UNITY WALK 2020 ~*~*~ Friday, 8/28/20 
in commemoration of the 8/28/63
I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

SAVE THE DATE!

In solidarity with those who are standing for social justice and racial healing, in observance of many others who have done so all over the world, and in remembrance of those who have given their lives across many divides so that we might stand today, we, the Coming To The Table - RVA family, invite you to join us for a UNITY WALK on Monument Avenue to acknowledge the changes that are happening - the end of our first 400 years and the vision of the next 400 years. 

TIME AND SPECIFIC LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED
August 2020 Book Circle
(4th Thursdays)

Poetry From the Colors of My Mind 
by Selena Haskins
As per Goodreads.com, "Poetry knocked on my door when I was just a little girl. She started rhyming to me in nursery books my mother gave me. Poetry spilled harmony through my speakers from songs of love to songs of heartache and pain. When I walked outside poetry stood on the corners and rapped while the youth pop locked and made beats with their lips and called it the "Human Beatbox." All around me was poetry and poetry was me. She spoke the colors of my mind that would set me free. This is a collection of poetry, a personal part of me." Join us on 8/27/20 6:30 - 8:30 pm on Zoom.
July 2020 Movie Circle
(4th Mondays)

1 Angry Black Man
Mike Anderson is a senior at the quintessential New- England Liberal Arts School, Frost College and Mike is eight weeks away from graduation. On this particular day he has his African-American literature class with his favorite professor. But today, Mike is feeling sadness. He’s feeling isolated. He’s feeling angry. BK Sutton and Jackie Stone the Executive Producers of the movie will join us for the discussion. We watch the movie at our leisure at home (available at low cost on Vudu) and then the CTTT movie discussion is scheduled via ZOOM for Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 6:30 pm.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
(RVA) : CTTT - RVA Event
(NAT): CTTT - National Event
(PRT) : Partner
Event

Wednesday, August 12th 6:00 - 8:00 pm (ONLINE)
2nd Wednesday monthly Community Gathering with The Joyful Feast via ZOOM Contact John to be added to mailing list. john.vest@thejoyfulfeast.net (RVA)

(Live ONLINE; also recorded)
CTTT Guided Meditation via ZOOM
(NAT)

(ONLINE)
3rd Tuesday Community Gathering via ZOOM (RVA)

(ONLINE)
Movie Circle (4th Monday) via ZOOM (RVA)

(ONLINE)
Book Circle (4th Thursday) via ZOOM (RVA)
Race was intentionally constructed. Come join us and together let's deconstruct it even more intentionally!
Here's how YOU can continue to make a difference with CTTT - RVA.
August is

National Black Business Month 


SUGGESTED WAYS TO OBSERVE:

  • Support and encourage African-American-owned businesses in your community.
  • Learn more about business opportunities for the African-American community.
  • Use #NationalBlackBusinessMonth in social media correspondence.
  • Discover more on the Black Business Month website.


~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
 Updated African-American Owned Businesses Brochure
Discover African-American culture in Richmond, Virginia and all of its surrounding regions. Please use the brochure below, developed by CTTT-RVA's Doug Steele, who has both visited and built a personalized relationship with these businesses. As these Covid-19 times have claimed many business, African American businesses have especially taken a huge hit, having to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape. Many have had to close and are restricted to only take-out and/or delivery services to protect their patrons and themselves. Due to our legacy of past and continued systemic racism, many Black restaurants are often left out of the conversation when it comes to financial support, and are often struggling to get loans to continue their businesses. We ask you as members of CTTT - RVA to help by purchasing meals and using the services at these Black businesses located in the Richmond, Virginia area. Take the challenge to not only visit but build a relationship with these business owners and their staff.
 Sign Up to become a Coming to the Table national member
We encourage all CTTT - RVA members to also become members of Coming To The Table at the national level. Our local chapter is part of a big family all across our nation, under a collective umbrella.

As a member of Coming To The Table, you become part of a nationwide community committed to truth-telling, transformation and liberation. 

There is no membership fee required to join Coming To The Table, but the ability for CTTT to meet ever-growing needs DOES depend on the generous financial support of our members. So we hope you will contribute financially! 
Volunteering with CTTT - RVA is a wonderful opportunity to get involved and connect with others. The work you contribute is always valued as we pursue our mission of a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past. We especially need those wanting to be trained and mentored as facilitators and we need some help behind the scenes with things like maintaining our mailing lists, for instance.

Featured Video And Articles

Check out the featured video and articles below to help further the conversation on racism and its impact.

Reflections on the book Might Justice: My Life in Civil Rights

by Karen Franklin
Karen Franklin is a beloved member and Co-Convener of CTTT-RVA's Book Circle. Karen is a former RPS teacher currently working as a Mental Health Case Manager. Karen became aware of Coming To The Table - RVA from attending the WomanKind Conference at St. John's Church. Karen became interested in the Book Circle part of CTTT - RVA out of a love of reading. Karen was intrigued with how such a charged subject like racism would be handled by reading books. 
Review: Ms. Dovey Johnson Roundtree allowed us to have a glimpse into her extraordinary life. She was a trailblazer as a civil rights attorney, sharing an inspiring life story that speaks movingly and urgently to our troubled times. To quote Tayari Jones, who wrote the book's foreword, "This is a love story. Dovey Jones Roundtree was a patriot, in love with a flawed, unfair and often cruel nation." Ms. Roundtree took on Washington, DC and its legal establishment, winning a 1955 landmark bus discrimination case that ultimately shattered Jim Crow laws. This was a fascinating read, told in the first person, which allowed the reader to connect deeply with Ms. Roundtree.
HOW TO TELL SOMEONE YOU LOVE THEY’RE BEING RACIST
So how do you communicate clearly and effectively to help reduce the casual racism that is still prevalent...READ MORE


“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

--Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Coming To The Table - RVA

August 2020