Join the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum for a four-part program series on race and racism in our community. Through this series of virtual public programs, we hope to foster an increased understanding of racism in both a historical and contemporary context and an awareness of concrete steps that can be taken to disrupt systemic racism. For these conversations, we will convene a diverse group of experts to share their knowledge, their stories, and their ideas.

Session 1: Starting the Conversation

Thursday, July 23 at 7 pm

Join us for a conversation between Kamilah Collins, President of Collins Collaborations and experienced advocate for equitable practices and inclusive communication, and Mary Pat Higgins, President and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. In this session, we will discuss the “why” behind this series and how we approach the conversation as a museum. We will aim to establish a common knowledge base and define terms related to racism, systemic racism, bias, and equity. The information provided in this session will lay the groundwork and serve as a point of entry for the conversations we will have throughout the series.

Session 2: The Past

Thursday, August 20 at 7 pm

In this discussion, we aim to place race relations and systemic racism in Dallas in historical context. Dallas has a long history of racial inequity and division in education, housing, policing and other sectors that is not often discussed. We will bring this history to light and acknowledge the longstanding structures and policies that still affect communities of color today. We cannot move forward until we understand our historical foundations.

Session 3: The Present

Thursday, September 10 at 7 pm

In this session, we will offer space for personal testimony. Centering and honoring voices of people of color, we will hear about what racism looks like in our city now, recent changes in our communities, and the work that still needs to be done.

Session 4: The Future

Thursday, October 15 at 7 pm

In our final conversation of the series, we will discuss concrete strategies to combat systemic racism, including steps to take in areas of education, housing, employment, policing, and incarceration. Building on the foundation of language, history, and personal experience developed during this series, this session will serve as a call to action for all of us to engage in this work.