Black History Month Book Reading and Discussion

THURSDAYS | FEBRUARY 17 AND FEBRUARY 24

You're invited to join our sibling congregation and ministry partner Asbury United Methodist Church for a two-part book reading group during Black History Month. 

The group will meet on Thursdays Feb. 17 and 24 at 7 p.m. via Zoom for a discussion of "White Space, Black Hood" by Dr. Sheryll Cashin. 

Drawing on nearly two decades of research in cities including Baltimore, St. Louis, Chicago, New York, and Cleveland, Dr. Cashin traces the processes of residential caste as it relates to housing, policing, schools, and transportation. She calls for abolition of these state-sanctioned processes. The ultimate goal is to change the lens through which society sees residents of poor Black neighborhoods from presumed thug to presumed citizen, and to transform the relationship of the state with these neighborhoods from punitive to caring. 

Preparation for the Study 

For an overview of what will be covered in the series, watch this short video. 

Feb. 17 - Read from the Prologue through Chapter Four of the book and consider especially the role of what the author calls "ghetto mythology" rhetoric in shaping public policies that harm Black American "descendants."

Feb. 24 - Read Chapters Five through Nine, and come prepared to discuss your own views about abolition and repair or reparations. 

You will need a password to join the Zoom. The password is: 343729.