Minnesota's Racial Legacy

Finally Telling the Truth
A Black fist adorned with feathers in the shape of Minnesota

Minnesota's Racial Legacy: Finally Telling the Truth

  • [Online viewers: Scroll down to download PDF versions of the Resource List, Journal Questions, and Lament & Promise]

After announcing the ambitious 10-year plan for Truth and Reparations in Minnesota we immediately began hearing from people eager to be a part of truth-telling, and people eager to hear the truth about Minnesota's racial legacy. People eager to hear how our past shapes our present and how Minnesotans, knowing the truth, can begin to leave the legacy of a more equitable state.

The first truth-telling event began Friday, September 24, 2021, at Plymouth Congregational Church. Christine Diindiisi McCleave, then-Chief Executive Officer of the Twin Cities-based National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, gave the keynote address. She is an enrolled citizen of Turtle Mountain Ojibwe Nation and a leader and an activist for Indigenous Rights advocating for truth, justice, and healing for the genocidal policy of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools.

McCleave

 

 

The Saturday morning keynote was delivered by Dr. Yohuru Williams, a history professor at St. Thomas University. He is the Founding Director of St. Thomas’ Racial Justice Initiative and the author of several books, including Rethinking the Black Freedom Movement. 

Williams

 

 

 

Saturday also featured a powerful and challenging panel discussion with Anthony Galloway, Nevada Littlewolf, Rev. Kelly Sherman-Conroy, and Ebony Adedayo. 

 


 

 

Minnesota's Racial Legacy documents for online viewers may be viewed or downloaded here:

Program for September 24-25

Resource List

Journal Questions 

Lament and Promise
 

 

 

 

Register below

 

Find the vision document here. 

3-Point Platform for Racial Justice

PDF icon 3-Point Platform for Racial Justice 


 

We are presently fundraising for staffing for this ambitious and necessary work. You can contribute here.

Watch the virtual press conference launching the project.

Read a news article placing this work in global and state context.

Truth Telling Event Registration

Uncovering Minnesota's Racial Legcy

White Church Truths

November 5, 9:30am - 3:00pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis

In  order to work for racial justice there are truths that must be faced,  even about the faith practiced in most Minnesota churches. At White Church Truths we will face the truths hidden in our own beliefs and open our eyes more clearly to the future – and our role in it. 


In the  U.S. today, an entire religion has developed around the worship of the  dominance, centrality, privilege, and assumed universality of being  white. Dr. Michael O. Emerson, author of “Blacks and Whites in Christian  America,” offers a keynote. A response panel includes Felicia Boone,  DEI consultant for Hennepin County; Rev. Kelly Sherman-Conroy (Lakota),  Native theologian; and Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, Lead Pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church will offer panel responses.


PROGRAM

9:30am – Registration/Hospitality

10:00am – Opening

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome

Music

10:20am – Introduction of Speaker

Music

Speaker – Dr. Michael O. Emerson

11:45am – Lunch

12:30pm – Reconvene

12:30pm – Response Panel

Rev. Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy

Felecia Boone

Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis

1:30pm – Q and A

2:00pm – Activity

2:25pm – Closing

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White Church Truths // November 5, 2022, 9:00am - 3:00pm // Westminster Presbyterian Church,
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