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RACE -- The Power of an Illusion -- Film Screening and Facilitated Community Discussion

Location

Main Library
Lecture Hall
449 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138

Get directions

Neighborhood

  • City Wide

Contact

Brian Corr
peace@cambridgema.gov
617.349.4694

Description

Calendar event image

The Cambridge Peace Commission is partnering with the Cambridge Citizens Committee on Civic Unity to hold this film screening and facilitated community discussion featuring “The Difference Between Us,” Episode 1 of RACE – The Power of an Illusion.

This event will include a brief introduction that sets the stage for viewing “The Difference Between Us,” which examines how recent scientific discoveries have toppled the concept of biological race.  The program follows a dozen diverse students who sequence and compare their own DNA. They discover, to their surprise, that their closest genetic matches are as likely to be with people from other “races” as their own.  The episode helps us understand why it doesn’t make scientific or genetic sense to sort people into biological races, as it dismantles our most basic myths about race, including natural superiority and inferiority.

This will be followed by an interactive, facilitated discussion including reflections, conversation, resources, and an opportunity for participants to identify personal next steps.

According to the series' producers, "RACE – The Power of an Illusion is a provocative three-hour series that questions the very idea of race as biology. Scientists tell us that believing in biological races is no more sound than believing the sun revolves around the earth. So if race is a biological myth, where did the idea come from? And why should it matter today?  RACE – The Power of an Illusion provides an eye-opening discussion tool to help people examine their beliefs about race, privilege, policy, and justice."

This is the first in a three-part series organized by the Cambridge Peace Commission and cosponsored by the Citizens Committee on Civic Unity.

This event is free, open to all, and is wheelchair accessible.
This event was originally scheduled for March 2020, and was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Page was posted on 1/21/2020 7:09 PM
Page was last modified on 7/25/2023 3:21 AM
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