Sun, Aug 10
|New Seasons Market (private event space)
What Should We Do With Our Past?
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates ⏱️ Preparation: Approx. 3 hours
Aug 10, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT
New Seasons Market (private event space), 3445 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR
All readings will be sent to participants upon registration.
"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Coates makes a compelling argument for reparations by outlining the enduring impact of systemic racism, from slavery to redlining. This essay invites us to grapple with the lasting consequences of historical injustice and challenges us to consider how society should respond. Length: ~16 pages
"Notes of a Native Son" by James Baldwin
In this personal and incisive essay, Baldwin reflects on his own experiences growing up as a Black man in America, weaving together themes of race, history, and identity. Baldwin’s reflection on how the past shapes the present provides a poignant lens through which we can explore the complexity of reckoning with our history. Length: ~12 pages
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