Before going on the Freedom Ride, all participants are required to attend at least three of the following events (but come to as many as you can!). These book discussions, film screenings, and day trips are designed to provide you with a good amount of basic knowledge and experience to fully process, enjoy, and appreciate the Freedom Ride itself.
To find out more, email Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome at
wesley.spears-newsome@gfbccary.org.
Full Pre-Trip Event Schedule:
- October 20 - Day Trip to Historic Stagville (Durham, NC)
Stagville Website:
http://www.stagville.org/- November 4 - Book Discussion of Selections from Marcia Riggs' Can I Get a Witness? (lunch following worship)
Riggs' Book on Amazon:
http://a.co/d/aQnCO2E- December TBD - Film Screening and Discussion of American Experience Series The Abolitionists Episode
Common Sense Media on the American Experience:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/american-experience- January 13 - Book Discussion of Selections from James Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree (lunch following worship)
Cone's Book on Amazon:
http://a.co/d/51o4yfa- February 18 - Film Screening of American Experience Documentary Freedom Riders (6:00 - 9:00 pm)
Common Sense Media on the American Experience:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/american-experience- March 9 - Day Trip to International Civil Rights Center & Museum (Greensboro, NC)
International Civil Rights Center Website:
https://www.sitinmovement.org/- April 7 - Film Screening and Discussion of Netflix's 13th (precise time pending; late afternoon or early evening)
Common Sense Media on 13th:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/13th- May 26 - Book Discussion of Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove's Reconstructing the Gospel (lunch following worship)
Wilson-Hartgrove's Book on Amazon:
http://a.co/d/3p0BBx6All dates and times are subject to change. When you sign up, your email will be stored to alert you of any schedule changes to your events.
CONTENT ADVISORY WARNING: The subject matter of civil rights and the struggle for freedom in the United States is rife with violence and brutality. Participating in both the Freedom Ride itself and in pre-trip events will involve exposure to that violence in different ways. Film screenings will involve violence and strong language, trips will involve painful stories of violence and dehumanization, and book discussions will be difficult and challenging. Know that going in that the subject matter is hard in these respects, but nevertheless important. For parents with children, here is rating information for the film screenings:
The Abolitionists (American Experience/PBS): Rated PG
Freedom Riders (American Experience/PBS): Rated TV-PG
13th (Netflix): TV-MA (language, violent graphic images)
-- Common Sense Media for 13th:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/13th