'Race: the Power of an Illusion' Adult Learning Series Opens

WESTBOROUGH, MA—"Race is one topic where we all think we’re experts. Yet ask 10 people to define race or name "the races," and you’re likely to get 10 different answers. Few issues are characterized by more contradictory assumptions and myths, each voiced with absolute certainty. In producing this series, we felt it was important to go back to first principles and ask, What is this thing called "race"? - a question so basic it is rarely raised." — Larry Adelman Executive Producer

Adelman produced "Race: the Power of an Illusion," which powers the Community Learning Series adult classes coming up at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Westborough.

Led by Rev. Jeff Goodrich and Rev. Kirsten Nelson-Roenfeldt, the series takes place on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. From Feb. 28 to April 4.

Goodrich explained the series to Patch: "Over the course of six weeks, participants will watch a film series entitled 'Race: The Power of an Illusion' and then have the chance to think further about the film through some discussion questions."

With the film series about three hours total, on each of the six Wednesdays, participants will watch about 30 minutes, followed by the discussion questions. Participants will gain a better understanding of what race is and how it impacts lives and relationships.

Goodrich attended a conference in 2017 called Foundations of Christian Leadership, sponsored by Duke Divinity School. At the end of it, he was able to apply for an "Innovation in Ministry" grant for a project in his community.

"I applied with this focus on learning about race, and received the grant!" he said. "So, over the course of 2018, I am working to engage this work in three ways."

The first, he said, is this Wednesday night learning series. The second is a series of interfaith events where participants learn from each other in small group conversations about one another's faith. And the third is working towards having a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event for Westborough on MLK Jr. Day in January 2019."

"There are a number of issues that continue to be debated in the news cycle of our day, and many of them connect to issues of race," said Goodrich. "For example, as we debate issues around immigration and refugees, race plays a factor. I thought that a community learning series open to the public would serve us all well as we debate some of these issues and learn from one another."

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