A Message from the Film’s Producer, Eugene Jarecki With Vision ... e senselessness and scope of the tragedy of drug abuse while inicting immeasurable By Faith ... in Newtown, CT demand that we as damage both on those targeted by drug rough Action Americans take a moral inventory of who laws and on the hopes and beliefs of those we are as a nation and what we want to be who enforce them. A Message from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference going forward. I’ve spent the last several years making a documentary about the But there was hope, too, because in so - e Social Justice Network - severity of America’s drug laws and their many people I met, I found great majesty– e United States represents 5% of the world’s population, yet holds 25% of the world’s incarcerated. For the past devastating impact on poor and minority the capacity to forgive, to search within several years, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference has been engaged in implementing a national educational communities and the national soul- oneself, to seek a higher purpose and to awareness campaign on the impact of mass incarceration on our families, communities and this nation searching that Newtown demands is not look for a better way. I can report that the (www.tobefreeatlast.net). We have done so, along with many others in an interfaith and ecumenical manner. Two unrelated to a long overdue reexamination approach America has taken to our drug seminal works on this issue are: e New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle of the drug war and the brutality it has problem is increasingly seen as morally Alexander and Slavery by Another Name by Douglas Blackmon. unleashed on families, children and questionable and more destructive to communities across this country. society than the drugs ever were. e 2013 Martin L. King commemorative lm screening events of e House I Live In are due to the personal convictions and generosity of the producer, Eugene Jarecki. e lm won the 2012 Sundance Film Award and is now Unfortunately, both of these areas of ere is a growing movement of people in the running for an Academy Award. To honor the legacy of Dr. King, Mr. Jarecki and the other producers are concern are underscored by a common of good will, including many youth, all over making it available without cost to all communities of faith and high schools. e Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference moral quandary: how did a nation founded this nation who are inspiring America to is privileged to collaborate work with Mr. Jarecki and Charlotte Street Films to bring attention to these pressing issues. in enlightenment principles of decency, reconsider the moral priorities of the drug human dignity and kindness become a war and, more broadly, to lead the way down For many, the presence and consequences of the failed War on Drugs and mass incarceration in America reveals the staging ground for so much that is brutal, a path towards a more compassionate and real soul of this nation and is the unnished business of the civil rights movement. In many ways, the entangled web insensitive and demonstrative of man’s decent society. of policies and practices which led up to the Newtown, CT slaughter is linked to the failed War on Drugs and the way inhumanity to man. this nation glamorizes violence, marginalizes people of color, those with mental illness and the poor. I, along with Dr. Iva Carruthers and the e title of my lm, “e House I Live In,” Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, are By these events, we hope to help change the pulse of the nation, its moral center and ber, by informing our audiences is borrowed from a 1940s ballad that delighted to honor the legacy and life of of what is happening under our collective watch. famously asks “What is America to Me?” the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, by sponsoring As I traveled to more than 25 states screenings of e House I Live In all over documenting the lives of those touched by the nation. It gives me great personal “In Germany, the Nazis rst came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then the drug war– from the dealer to the pride and hope that we will launch these they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and grieving mother, the narcotics ocer to the screenings for the faith community I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn't speak up because congressman, the inmate to the federal and high schools across the nation at I was a protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me.” judge– I grappled with how the world’s the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in - Reverend Martin Niemoeller beacon of freedom became its leading Atlanta on January 12th and culminating at jailer, with 2.3 million people behind bars, Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, more than 500,000 for nonviolent drug D.C., on January 19th during the week- We thank you for your participation in these commemorative events of the legacy, man and mission of Rev. Dr. oenses. end celebration of the inauguration of Martin Luther King. is is a Kairos moment – a moment of national opportunity. Spread the word! President Barack H. Obama. Taken together, the testimony of those Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, General Secretary I met lled me with both pain and hope. Eugene Jarecki, Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference Pain because the war on drugs producer “e House I Live In,” January 12, 2013 has proven to be an unmitigated disaster, “Freakonomics” and “Why We Fight.” failing in every way to address the scourge January 12, 2013 Visit: www.sdpconference.info / www.tobefreeatlast.net / email: [email protected] f 1 Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become “Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness silent about the things that matter.” in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” • Short prefatory statements for the four focus areas “In Germany, the Nazis rst came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a • Actual verbatim from the film’s trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn't speak up because I was a protestant. Then they came for me, and by that script as examples to which you “It is said that no one truly knows a time there was no one left to speak for me.” - Rev. Martin Niemoeller can refer nation until one has been inside its jails. • References for additional sources A nation should not be judged by how it I. How Are You Feeling? (Psycho-Emotional) (It is suggested that participants form small group clusters and begin the following excercise using a post-it note.) • Several fact sheets / FAQs from treats its highest citizens, but its lowest several partners as an addenum ones.” - President Nelson Mandela We know that any documentary lm that has earned the Sundance Film of the Year Award and is nominated for an Academy Award must have portrayed a powerful message to which the audience has an emotional and mental connection. We will begin by rst We hope you have someone designated to discussing our most basic reactions as humans: how do you feel? take notes on the types of questions and Let’s start with a simple metaphor elicitation exercise by sharing our emotional responses to the lm. Several questions to be discussed issues that the participants raised. We follow this initial exercise. welcome all the feedback you care to share • Write down 1 – 3 words only on how you FEEL. about your event, any next steps and how we might support your eorts. Please • Identify an object (or draw an image) that expresses your EMOTION. Briefly share why you chose that word(s) and object. “There can be no keener revelation of a encourage your participants to go to our society's soul than the way in which it • Who or what could you most identify or empathize with in the film? websites and register so we might treats its children.” • Who or what were you most unable to connect to? continue to share information with them. - President Nelson Mandela ey are provided on the participant Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.: handout and your guide. “A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies… True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. We know, many events will have invited Verbatim from It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” The House I Live In: program guests as a post-screening panel. We trust our collective eorts will greatly “Do you know what it’s like going home at (Sociological) II. What Are You Thinking About The System? contribute to this nation’s 2013 Martin night knowing that you did a personal Luther King Commemorative programs. injustice? I did an injustice to Maurice.” e House I Live In shows how the prisons have become crisis sites of relocation, as opposed to rehabilitation, for too many people - Judge Mark Bennett who suer the eects of poverty and reduced opportunities or who are victims of addiction and mental illness. We thank you for joining so many others e House I Live In makes a powerful statement about the process of dehumanization and the ve stages of destruction that Nazi in this call to “Search for the Soul of a “You’ve gotta have an enemy for every Germany went through leading to the holocaust. ey are: Identication, Ostracism, Conscation, Concentration and Annihilation. N a t i o n .” thing. The way the Germans in the 30’s ose who were silent during that time period were indirectly complicit by virtue of their silence. As the lm documents, many of rebuilt their infra-structure… industries… those most directly responsible for implementing various aspects of the U.S. criminal justice system today are beginning to understand Eugene Jarecki, and rebuilt their pride, their nationalism— and speak out about the dire consequences for American democracy of the inherent injustices in the criminal justice system. e House I Live In was by saying that these people… are the cause of all our woe and if we hate them, • What information about the War on Drugs in this film was most revealing to you? Dr. Iva Carruthers, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference we’ll be better o… everybody’s got to • What does this film tell you about how the criminal justice system operates, particularly with trends towards privatization? have an enemy.” - Mike Carpenter, Prison Guard • What does this film tell you about the people who use drugs and why they use them? • What does this film tell you about the negative impact of the War on Drugs on our communities? 2 Introduction to Faith Facilitators Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Verbatim from The House I Live In: “Envy, jealousy, a lack of self-confidence, a feeling of insecurity, and a haunting sense of inferiority are all rooted in We are very pleased that the response to fear. We do not envy people and then fear them; first we fear them and subsequently we become jealous of them. Is there a cure for these annoying fears that pervert our personal lives? our Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Yes, a deep and abiding commitment to the way of love.” Commemorative Screenings of e House I Live In has been phenomenal. III. What basic beliefs and understandings help us move forward? (Faith) ose hosting and participating in the screenings, followed by a forum, Verbatim from The House I Live In: “America’s drug problem is a result of hundreds represent a diverse group of adults and “I’m using drugs and now I got these two little “Let’s return to the focus of the prevention “At the precinct they told me that my of years of history, economic policy, social youth from across the nation. We have boys, these pretty boys. And I don’t know how of crime, how do we prevent people from charge was a conspiracy charge. policy, and misunderstanding. So let’s not participants in at least thirty states, to really be their dad. I know I supposed to. I becoming drug addicts … how do we Conspiracy of fty grams or more. I make the most visual manifestation of it, that is including Alaska. Our discussion know I ain’t had one and I know I supposed to. prevent people from being incarcerated.” messed up... So all I’m thinking about to say people being out there in the street and framework, participant handout and (SIGHS) I didn’t know what, how to stop doing - William Bratton is I messed up.” using, the problem. It’s not the problem, it’s facilitator guide have been designed what I was doing.” (Punishment / Forgiveness / Healing) - Anthony Johnson simply a manifestation of the problem. It’s in appreciation for the diversity or our - Dennis Whidbee (Anthony Johnson’s Father) simply a symptom.” audiences and the need to provide (Accountability) exibility for the hosts and facilitators “As a physician I am concerned with the casualties of the war on drugs which is the to adjust our recommended format as e following faith principles or ideas around which there are many sacred narratives are suggested by the lm. frontline users and the petty dealers, but rather they deem appropriate. We know that Forgiveness Healing Justice Love Mercy Murder than seeing the drug problem in isolation, you the program timing, as well as the Punishment Redemption Reconciliation Sin Violence have to see it in a social context. These are not participant responses to the lm will be problems— none of them— that are just varied. It is our hope that this is just ese ideas shape how we live out our faith. ese issues shape how we see ourselves, those around us and our future. intrinsic to individuals. They all represent the beginning of local community-based multigenerational family history, culture, social conversations and citizen engagement on • How does your personal understanding of these ideas and sacred stories help you address the issues related to the conditions, and human failure.” the issue of the failed War on Drugs and War on Drugs or mass incarceration in the United States? - Dr. Gabor Mate the criminal justice system, with all its • How are those understandings demonstrated or manifested in your personal life as related to those directly or indirectly various tentacles. impacted by the criminal justice system? • How does your faith community’s understanding of these ideas and sacred stories help you address the issues related to e facilitators’ guide is an extended the War on Drugs or mass incarceration in the United States? version of the participant handout and includes additional information for • How are those understandings demonstrated or manifested in the life of your congregation as related to those directly encouraging dialogue, extended study or indirectly impacted by the criminal justice system? and action groups. • What are the implications of the War on Drugs and rates of incarceration in the U.S. for faith communities in the U.S., “People want to lock people up and keep them the African American Church, The Church Universal, the Ecumencial community? locked away, and then when their sentence is e facilitators’ guide includes: • What are some linkages, similarities, dissimilarities, between prison justice here and in other parts of the world? How over they expect this person to be reformed or a • Introductions from us to help you does all of this impact our perceived and real sense of security and safety, anger and fear? dierent person, but if you haven’t given them introduce the event any skills or training, how can they be?” • How can we do more to create systems of justice that work for all? • Identification of the lens through - Eric Franklin which the four focus areas for post-screening conversation were developed Thank you for participating in today's event. We would love for you to stay in touch with us. We invite you to tell your own story about how mass incarceration has impacted your life, your family or community. Go to our website, register and stay informed and in touch by posting your comments. www.tobefreeatlast.net / www.sdpconference.info 3 Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.: References, Links & Bibliography FAITH FACILITATORS “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an DISCUSSION GUIDE inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” The House IV. How do we begin the Quest for Justice / The Soul of a Nation? (Next Steps) I Live In Verbatim from The House I Live In: “You need to care about that person down the block because the “Today, you have to understand that the drug war is actually a A U.S. Documentary same rights that they have, you have. And if you let their rights be war on ALL Americans, I think people keep saying ‘Well, that’s by compromised, your rights are compromised. At some point you about them’ , well no, it’s about you.” - Charles Ogletree Eugene Jarecki have to stand up and say, it’s not ok.“ - Michael Bien

Eugene Jarecki said he did this lm to inspire a national reconsideration of the morality of America’s drug war. “I grappled with how America, the world’s beacon of freedom, became its leading jailer, with 2.3 million people behind bars, more than 500,000 for non violent drug oenses… many of those behind bars young men and women of color. I hope this lm contributes to Dr. King’s vision of a more compassionate and decent path forward as a society. I hope this lm helps young people nd a reason to understand and participate in addressing the war on drugs and making the criminal justice system just for all. For me, this means helping us all search for the soul of a nation.”

e sponsors and supporters of these 2013 MLK commemorative screenings and forums on the lm, being held all W I N N E R around the nation, hope that people see this lm as something that gives them information and hope to be agents of GRAND JURY PRIZE DOCUMENTARY positive change in “search for the soul of a nation.” S U N D A N C E FILM FESTIVAL 2012 • What does that challenge suggest to you? • What would Martin Luther King and Martin Niemoller say about the 40 year history of a failed war on drugs? • How can today’s moral leaders and people of goodwill help make more people aware of and responsive to the challenge to “Search for the Soul of a Nation?” • Where do we go from here? • What can we do? • How do we begin the journey?

MLK Commemorative Screening and Discussion on “ e Soul of a Nation” sponsored by CHARLOTTE STREET FILMS and Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. Thank you for participating in today's event. We would love for you to stay in touch with us. We invite you to tell your own story about how mass incarceration has impacted your life, - e Social Justice Network - 4 your family or community. Go to our website, register and stay informed and in touch by posting your comments. www.tobefreeatlast.net / www.sdpconference.info www.sdpconference.info