Race Amity Discussion Series

Race Amity is vital in advancing access, equity, social justice, and unity. Join us for a five-part interactive discussion that explores the history of Americans working courageously to overcome racial injustice through acts of amity, harmony, and peace – from nationally significant friendships addressing anti-black racism to our local challenges and progress on the Olympic Peninsula. Discussions will continue on Wednesdays through May 17. 

The series keys off the PBS documentary project An American Story: Race Amity and the Other Tradition which features short stories of nationally significant friendships addressing anti-black racism. The course then turns to our local history and tells significant stories of challenges and progress in overcoming race prejudices on the Olympic Peninsula through collaboration, reciprocity, and friendship. Local history will include the Chemakum People “We Are Still Here” project; Kawamoto Farm past and present; history of Habitat for Humanity; Tse-whit-sen Village, from the book “Breaking Ground” by Lynda V. Mapes; and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and habitat restoration.  

The purpose of the course is to celebrate inspiring legacies and to cultivate race amity as a key tool in advancing access, equity, social justice, and unity. This is an interactive group, and resource lists will be provided for further reading, videos, and experiences. 

For more background information, see the National Center for Race Amity (NCRA) website at raceamity.org. Short videos there include “An American Story: Race Amity and the Other Tradition” (5:09 min) also at https://tinyurl.com/FORA-ONE  and “What is Race Amity?” (6:28 min), also at https://youtu.be/Olk71W8osq0. 

Kathryn Neal, the facilitator, is involved in community building, and in salmon habitat restoration on the Olympic Peninsula. She is a retired civil engineer. 

Naiome Krienke, the guest speaker, is a community leader, and a descendant of Chemakum, S'Klallam, and Makah tribes. She is involved in a project to build a traditional-style longhouse on tribal land.