Beck Cultural Exchange Center African American History & Culture 1927 DANDRIDGE AVENUE | KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37915 PHONE: 865.524.8461 | EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.BECKCENTER.NET FOR IMMEDIATE For more information Contact 865.524.8461 RELEASE BeckCenter.net November 14, 2020
Public Invited to Virtual Town Hall Meeting A Discussion on Racial Justice: Part VI
(Knoxville, TN) – Beck is hosting its sixth Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Racial Justice with members of the “Divine Nine” on Friday November 20 at 4:00 p.m. and concluding at 6:00 p.m. (eastern).
Following the death of Mr. George Perry Floyd, Jr., an African American unarmed man, who was killed by police in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020, Beck launched a series of monthly Virtual Town Hall Meetings on Racial Justice beginning June 19 during the annual commemoration of Juneteenth. The discussions have attracted large audiences with some hosting crowds of over a thousand participants.
Beck is continuing this discourse. Make plans to join Beck Cultural Exchange Center president and event moderator, Rev. Reneé Kesler, for Part VI of the discussion on Racial Justice along with our distinguished panel of members of the “Divine Nine:
DR. CHARLES F. LOMAX, JR., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Founded 1906 CYNTHIA FINCH, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Founded 1908 ERIC LATTIMORE, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Founded 1911 SAM MCKENZIE, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Founded 1911 TUNISIA HOLLEY, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Founded 1913 ASHFORD HUGHES, SR., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Founded 1914 TENEA MCGHEE, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Founded 1920 VIVAT SHANKS, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Founded 1922 CHARLES A. BROWN, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Founded 1963
Also joining this panel is our special guest, ROSLYN M. BROCK, Chairman Emeritus NAACP National Board of Directors and, Chairman, International Connection Committee Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Tuesday, August 11, former vice president Joe Biden made history when he named California senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate. Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, became the first Black woman and first Asian American to be nominated for a major party’s presidential ticket. Following an historic election Tuesday, November 3, Biden and Harris became the president and vice-president elect of the United States, Saturday, November 7. Again, Harris would make history becoming the first Black woman and first South Asian vice president-elect.
Vice-president-elect Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and, is a member of the “Divine Nine.” Members of the “Divine Nine” have been on the forefront of justice issues as part of a lifelong commitment.
As panelist address the topic, viewers will have an opportunity to submit questions and offer comments throughout the discussion.
To access the Virtual Town Hall Meeting visit: https://www.beckcenter.net/racial-justice or additional telephone options are also available.
According to Beck President Rev. Reneé Kesler, “Black history is the true story of enslavement, exploitation, injustice, and racism. Much of history far too often repeats itself. Still, James Baldwin said, ‘If we are not afraid to look back, nothing we are facing can frighten us.’ We are in a critical moment in our country and indeed our world, and we need to hear from our community in this moment. It is our hope, that together we are able to find ways to eradicate systemic racism. We are seeking Racial Justice.”
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2 HOW TO JOIN THE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING RACIAL JUSTICE PART VI WITH MEMBERS OF THE “DIVINE NINE”
When: Nov 20, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Racial Justice with The Divine 9: A Salute to Kamala Harris, Member of the Divine 9
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO JOIN THE WEBINAR: https://discovery.zoom.us/j/93476544535?pwd=YXAxa0JwcFhyd2xXSGdUanJibk10Zz09 Passcode: 659616
OR TO JOIN BY PHONE: Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699006833,,93476544535#,,,,,,0#,,659616# or +12532158782,,93476544535#,,,,,,0#,,659616# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 934 7654 4535 Passcode: 659616 International numbers available: https://discovery.zoom.us/u/au2XVTpe3
Or Visit https://www.beckcenter.net/racial-justice
ABOUT THE DIVINE NINE There are nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as "The Divine Nine." Each of these fraternities and sororities is rich in history - ties to one or more of these organizations may be found in many college-educated Black families in the United States. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Founded 1906, Cornell University Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Founded 1908, Howard University Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Founded 1911, Indiana University Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Founded 1911, Howard University Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Founded 1913, Howard University Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Founded 1914, Howard University Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Founded 1920, Howard University Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Founded 1922, Butler University Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Founded 1963, Morgan State University
The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. was founded May 10, 1930 at Howard University, Washington, DC. Incorporated as a perpetual body in 1937.
ABOUT BECK Beck is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1975 as a result of Knoxville’s Urban Renewal projects. The Urban Renewal projects began in 1959 under Title I of the Housing Act of 1949. The projects relocated and displaced many black families and businesses. Much of the heritage of the black community was erased from the map. Except for one or two structures in the city, edifices that once stood as monuments to the struggles of early leaders no longer exist. Absent the establishment of Beck, these places and the people may never have existed. Beck is the only organization in the region dedicated to local and regional African American history and culture. Beck is the storehouse of African American history and culture and is designated by the state as a primary repository of black history and culture in East Tennessee.
3 BECK CULTURAL CORRIDOR The Beck Cultural Corridor, beginning with the area commonly known as Urban Renewal, will reclaim history. Reclaiming history is the process of bringing back the past that has been lost or forgotten. Reclamation is the intentional acknowledgment of great people, places and things. Edifices that once stood as monuments to the struggles of early leaders are no longer visible. Many of the people no longer exist; but their story, and their history lives on. We Are Reclaiming African American History and Culture. DELANEY MUSEUM AT BECK Beck is restoring the only remaining ancestral home of one of the greatest modern painters of the twentieth century, Beauford Delaney. The restoration of this historic home, located next door to Beck, will preserve an extraordinary piece of Knoxville history as the future Delaney Museum at Beck. BECK MISSION To be the place where African American history and culture are preserved, nurtured, taught, & continued. BECK VISION To be the desired place that people go to learn, discover and experience the rich legacy of African Americans inside a vibrant Cultural Corridor, the Beck Cultural Corridor. JAMES AND ETHEL BECK Beck is named in honor of James Garfield (1881-1969) and Ethel Benson (1897-1970) Beck. James and Ethel were two of the most glamorous and influential members of the black community in Knoxville during the period of the 1920s-1960s and were the last people to live in the Beck mansion.
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