• By Mabel Pais

Ujju Aggarwal, panelist

For generations, skin color has been exploited to divide humanity into “races,” used to sow division and justify systems of power and oppression.

But race is a human-invented classification system, not a biological category.

Could a change in our understanding of what race is (and more important, what it isn’t) bring an end to the racial wealth gap? If race were recognized as a social construct, could we better protect voting rights and build equitable access to healthcare and education?

Join NJPAC’s ‘Standing in Solidarity’ conversation on race, what it is and how it impacts our social order and public policies. This ‘PSEG True Diversity Film Series’ selection is “The House We Live In,” the third episode of the documentary series ‘RACE: The Power of an Illusion.’

How to participate:

Register at njpac.tfaforms.net/145?id=a2FUc0000001K1VMAU

Watch in advance “The House We Live In” (youtu.be/YvY3Ok6YpbU) from the three-part docuseries ‘RACE – The Power of An Illusion’ (California Newsreel, 2003 –  racepowerofanillusion.org)

Join NJPAC for a virtual panel discussion on Mon, Jan 22, at 7PM.

PANELISTS

Ujju Aggarwal, Activist and Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Experiential Learning at The New School

 Jean-Pierre Brutus, Senior Counsel in the Economic Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Sara Munjack, Director of Marketing & Partnerships at Consciously Unbiased

George Shulman, NYU professor working in the fields of political thought and American studies

MODERATOR

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Dean and Professor at Boston University School of Law.

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SOCIAL JUSTICE SERIES MOVES FROM SCREEN TO STAGE

By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will reimagine its long-running social justice conversation series, Standing in Solidarity, as a series of in-person events in 2024.

Launched in 2020, these free monthly conversations and other events focus on a range of social justice topics from voting rights and Native American identity to the impact of racism in the workplace.

Many of the programs are part of the ‘PSEG True Diversity Film Series’ which pairs screenings of socially engaged cinema with provocative, post-screening talks by a panel of activists, academics and journalists engaged with the topic.

“NJPAC took a deep dive into exploring important and complicated social justice issues in 2020, and our commitment to serving as a town square where our community can come together to talk through these challenging topics has only grown over the last four years,” said John Schreiber, President and CEO of NJPAC.

“We are excited to reimagine these programs as in-person gatherings. With our partners PSEG and the PSEG Foundation, we look forward to hosting some passionate, thoughtful and inspiring dialogues when ‘Standing in Solidarity’ begins its 2024 run.”

Since the program launched in the early months of the pandemic, the series has been convened virtually via Zoom. The sole in-person event — ‘Slavery’s Impact on the Black Experience in New Jersey’ — was held in June 2023 in honor of Juneteenth.

“Since 2014, the PSEG Foundation has proudly donated more than $2.6 million to NJPAC to purposefully support this unique film platform, empowering diverse audiences through its impactful reach. As we humbly approach a decade of partnership, we’re humbled by this milestone and appreciate our shared dedication to confronting complex social justice issues,”  said Calvin Ledford, President, PSEG  Foundation, and Director, Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We eagerly anticipate the reimagined program offering attendees firsthand, in-person conversations to explore the complexities of these deeply personal and pressing issues, for greater tolerance and empathy. We look forward to thoughtful discussions and continuing our partnership with NJPAC to champion social justice through the compelling art of storytelling.”

The ‘PSEG True Diversity Film Series’ was conceptualized in 2014 as a way to build  community inclusion and promote tolerance and understanding. Panel conversations followed the screening of issues-based films and documentaries on topics such as racism, criminal justice reform, voting rights and mental health.  The first event took place in 2015 with a screening of ‘Jasper, Texas’ and a panel conversation on the subject of race relations. In 2017 the ‘PSEG True Diversity Film Series’ evolved from quarterly programs to monthly events.

When ‘Standing in Solidarity’ was created in the summer of 2020, the PSEG film series became the main vehicle for monthly social justice conversations. Due to the pandemic, the program pivoted to a virtual format in the summer of 2020 and most of the programming has remained on Zoom since that time.

The in-person Standing in Solidarity programs will take place in March, May and June of 2024 and will be livestreamed. Stay tuned for each program’s titles.

PSEG Foundation

The PSEG Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), prioritizes investments in promoting environmental sustainability, social justice, and equity and economic empowerment.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

Visit njpac.org for more information.

One Center Street

Newark, New Jersey 07102

njpac.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722)

Follow NJPAC Online:

Website:      njpac.org

Twitter:       @NJPAC

Instagram:     @NJPAC

Hashtag:      #NJPAC

Facebook:      facebook.com/NJPAC

YouTube:      NJPACtv

Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

Website:     njpac.org/takeastand

Hashtag:       #NJPACTakeAStand

Youtube:        Standing in Solidarity playlist

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, Spirituality, The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)