RuhaT&R

A Conversation with Residents Who Lived Through Apartheid in Princeton

“We can’t change what we don’t face.” – James Baldwin
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
“This process aims to reconcile and reestablish relations, build forgiveness and healing by providing justice and right action.” – Ugandan traditional reconciliation process.

Please join us this coming Monday, Dec. 4th in the Community Room of the Princeton Public Library. We plan to start right at 7pm, so please arrive on time.

For racial healing and trust to begin, we must first acknowledge the accurate history of our country, including our town of Princeton, NJ, and then do our utmost to correct the inequities.  This history of racial hierarchy resulted in the “perception of inferiority or superiority based on race, physical characteristics or place of origin” (TRHT/Kellog Foundation).  This perceived inferiority and superiority led to the horrific treatment of the original Native peoples of this land, and of the domestic and agricultural enslaved African people and their descendants who helped to build this town.

This program will honor the sacrifices and celebrate the contributions of the residents of the African-American community of Princeton, now known as the Witherspoon-Jackson 20th Historical District.  We will hear the stories and views of three of this community’s most distinguished elders, Shirley Satterfield, Fern Spruill, and Larry Spruill.Then we will share our feelings and thoughts in our groups.  Professor Ruha Benjamin will facilitate.

It is our hope that this will be another significant step towards transforming our community into one that truly values all of its members.