Conversations Read & Reflect Discussion: `That Was Then, This is Now’ (Virtual)

Registration Required

Read and Reflect Discussion Group is part of the Conversations: Truth, Myth & Democracy Series

Join us for our next Read and Reflect virtual session `That Was Then, This is Now’ where we’ll reflect on the disturbing resurgence of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism in the United States.

To focus our discussion, we’ve selected both short readings and a documentary that delve into the issue. Participants are encouraged to read the selections and watch the film, and then reflect on the interplay of the two.  

Our virtual discussion will be moderated by Tom Kilbourn, ordained Episcopal priest and retired JBHS English Teacher.

Register to receive a Zoom link the day of the program. Include a cell for a text reminder.

Selected Articles:

*Note: Subscribers to The New York Times should log into their account. Non-subscribers may access up to 10 free articles per month. Patrons with a Mark Twain Library card may also access articles by clicking here.

What Can a City Do When Neo-Nazis Start Marching Down Its Streets?
The brazen appearance of white supremacist groups in Nashville left the city grappling with how to confront hateful speech without violating First Amendment protections.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/us/neo-nazis-nashville-free-speech.html?smid=em-share

Why Are There Neo-Nazis on the Streets of Nashville?
The shameless presence of white supremacists here tells us something about the similarity between the politics of the past and our political moment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/22/opinion/white-supremacist-nashville-south.html?smid=em-share

Documentary:

PBS – American Experience

Nazi Town, USA The Untold Story of Nazi Sympathizers on American Soil

Subscribers of PBS Passport may access this film in its entirety by clicking here.

Non-subscribers may access Chapter One for an overview by clicking here.

“The unknown story of the German American Bund, a 1930s pro-Nazi group with chapters in suburbs and big cities across the United States….” PBS — January 23, 2024

Mark your calendar for the next Read & Reflect `That Was Then, This Is Now’ session on Tuesday, January 7 at 7 pm. For this session, we’ll read two selections, written 57 years apart, on the Black experience in America. Click here for information or to register. 

This discussion is part of the Conversations Series, created in partnership by the Redding League of Women Voters and the Mark Twain Library. This award-winning series offers opportunities to continue and expand conversations on race, justice and democracy. Community members can exchange ideas, hear differing perspectives and talk about our ever-evolving democracy.