My “Traces of the Trade” cousins and I have been busy talking with people all over the country about the legacy of slavery, racism today, and what we can do to overcome those things that continue to divide us.
I’ll be joining Juanita Brown this weekend in Baltimore for several events and then continue out on my own to meet with folks to continue the discussion about the struggle with how to heal from our collective, historic trauma. Juanita and I will join the staff of the Annie E. Casey Foundation on Friday for a staff screening of Traces of the Trade and then participate in a teacher’s training Saturday morning at the Maryland Historical Society. Then on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 we’ll participate in a screening of Traces and a discussion to follow at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture.
Several Traces family members, including Juanita, Steve, Katrina, John, Holly, Bill, and I will attend Barack Obama’s inauguration next Tuesday. I hope to be within binocular range of a jumbo-tron screen. I simply want to be at the National Mall on this historic day with millions of my new best friends . I’ve written a blog post for the Beacon Broadside that should show up by the end of this week. I’ll include a link here once its there.
I’ll be very busy meeting with folks on college campuses and at conferences around the country this year. Check out my confirmed schedul to date here. If you’re in Baltimore or Washington, DC this weekend, and can join us Sunday evening, please introduce yourself.
This is an amazing time in the history of our nation. I’m glad to be alive right now. How about you?