The City of Gainesville Office of Equal Opportunity, along with the Dismantling Racism Change Team, is sponsoring the community initiative Dismantling Racism: A Community Initiative on Race & Race Relations, a five-year effort that addresses race and racism, including institutional racism in the City of Gainesville.

When asked about the initiative, Equal Opportunity Director Cecil Howard said, “The Jewish theologian and philosopher Abraham J. Heschel said, ‘Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.’ This quote epitomizes the need for communities to address the issue of racism, and to make every effort to bring this monstrosity to a screeching halt.”

During the first year of the initiative, the Change Team will employ the SSA (see, study, act) approach. This consists of providing citizens the opportunity to see race-related films during a film series, study race-related issues during study circles and act on solutions that will emerge from various action forums.

The Dismantling Racism Film Festival will be held at the Downtown Library and begins on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. with the film, “Remember the Titans.” The entire schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Feb, 13 at 10 a.m. – “Remember the Titans”
Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. – “Race: The Power of an Illusion (The House we Live in)”
Saturday, March 6 at 10 a.m. – “The Tuskegee Airmen”
Thursday, March 11 at 6 p.m. – “Eyes on the Prize”
Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. – “The Great Debaters”

Once the film series concludes, attendees will be invited to participate in one of several study circles to discuss the pertinent and personal aspects of race and racism. Study circle participants will then be invited to participate in larger groups known as action forums. Each action forum will consist of a mixture of persons from the various study circles, and will be distinguished by subject matter such as education, health, economic development, transportation, etc. Designed to motivate citizens, this "solutions" phase will render real solutions to problems and issues raised in the study circles.

This Dismantling Racism Initiative promises to be "eye-opening" to all Gainesville citizens. It will provide an excellent opportunity to openly and respectfully discuss race and racism with an eye toward resolving issues that are brought about because of our differences. For additional information about the event, please contact the City of Gainesville Office of Equal Opportunity at 352-334-5051.