Today is Saturday, May 30. Tomorrow, Sunday, May 31 is Trinity Sunday, the day Christians commemorate the Christian doctrine of the three persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. June is African American culture and emancipation (Juneteenth), National Indigenous History month and LGBTQ+ Pride month.
Announcing the next Exploring Racism Group Special Information Session, Tuesday, June 9. Find all information at the preceding link.
Quote of the week: ”Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.” Miles Davis born May 26, 1926 – died September 28, 1991, American musician and composer.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Miles Davis born May 26, 1926 – died September 28, 1991, American musician and composer.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miles-Davis
EVENTS
1. We apologize for the late notice but we were not aware of the movie “The Injured Body: A Film About Racism in America” playing at The Little Theatre, 240 East Avenue, Rochester, today, Saturday, May 30 at 11:30 AM. (see below for tickets and background and details on the film).
2. Monica Gebell shares information on the Mort Skirboll Lecture on Antisemitism with Dr. Rachel Fish on Monday, June 1. See details below.
3. The draft of Monroe County’s new Comprehensive Plan, Plan Forward, the first update in 40 years is out for review and comment. See the link below for the Press Release announcing its release and inperson meeting on June 3, 6:00 – 7:30 PM at MCC Brighton Campus, R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center and virtual meeting on June 10, noon – 1:00 PM. A link to a copy of the plan is also found in the press release.
4. The next Urban League Interrupt Racism Speaker Series is scheduled for Friday, June 5, 12:00 – 1:00 PM. See below for details.
5. On June 7, Michael Oberg, a professor of history at SUNY Geneseo, will discuss ‘You Live on Stolen
Land: Indigenous Dispossession and the Revolution in New York State.’ The event will be held from 2 to
3:30 p.m. at the Pittsford Community Library’s Fisher Meeting Room, 24 State St.
Registration is recommended; go to https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/16814596.
6. The 127th annualy Frederick Douglas Monument Commemoration celebrating 1899 unveiling of the monument will take place Tuesday, June 9 @ 10:00 AM, Frederick Douglas Memorial Square (Corner of South Ave. and Robinson Drive. Admission is free.
7. Juneteenth is less than 3 weeks away. The City of Rochester 2026 Juneteenth Festival & Parade are scheduled for Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. See below for details.
2026 Juneteenth Festival – Rochester Area Community Foundation https://www.racf.org/about/events/2026-juneteenth-festival/
8. Are you aware of NYS Abolition Commemoration Day? Saturday, July 11, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM at Rochester’s Maplewood Park. See background information below.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
9. From the Medium Daily Digest, we share 3 pieces (some are Opinion pieces);
a. Why Black People Report Better Outcomes with Black Doctors by Dr. Allison Wiltz:
b. “Understanding Voting Rights Through South Carolina’s 6th District“ by William Spivey:
c. The Steady Misrepresentation of the NAACP Boycott Against Thirteen SEC Schools by William Spivey:
10. Pat Mitchell provides this piece of history of an educator teaching her 3rd grade class about overt superiority, with the blue eyes vs. brown eyes experiment and its implications for skin color and racism:
In 1968, a 3rd grade teacher proved something that most adults still refuse to admit. Jane Elliott split her class by eye color. Blue eyes = superior. Brown eyes = inferior. Within 15 minutes, sweet, cooperative kids turned cruel. The “superior” group got longer recess, extra food, front-row seats. The “inferior” group wore collars around their necks. Test scores dropped for the kids labeled inferior. Behavior got worse. Self-esteem collapsed. All in one day. Over eye color. Now ask yourself, if 8-year-olds can absorb a hierarchy that fast, what does a lifetime of systemic messaging do? Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: Racism isn’t about hate. Classism isn’t about merit. It’s about control, and the fear of losing it. The moment one group believes their position at the top is natural, they’ll defend it like it’s survival. Unconsciously. Aggressively. Institutionally. Elliott didn’t create prejudice in that classroom. She revealed the machinery that was already there. The kids at https://www.facebook.com/reel/1097683535891194/ https://www.facebook.com/reel/1097683535891194/?referral_source=external_deeplink&original_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fv%2F1CuwDBREpx%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&hpir=1&http_ref=eyJ0cyI6MTc3OTU3NzE0NDAwMCwiciI6IiJ9&http_ref=eyJ0cyI6MTc3OTU3NzE0NDAwMCwiciI6IiJ9
11. Here are two an article from this week’s The Minority Reporter:
a. Former Mid-State Officer Convicted as Robert Brooks Case Still Looms Over NY Prisons
b. 2026 Frederick Douglass Monument Commemoration Announced
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/2026-frederick-douglass-monument-commemoration-announced
12. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – May 28, 2026
13. Liz Brown shares a brief review of the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan, Plan Forward by County Legislator Rachel Barnhart. You will find a link to the plan in this document as well as a link to provide comments on the plan. See below:
Notes on the Monroe County Draft Comprehensive Plan
14. The ROC Community Table shares position on the ICE detention facility planned for the Keating Federal Building.
15. Here is one article from this week’s Beacon:
A new film about how language can wound
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/05/28/a-new-film-about-how-language-can-wound/
16. There are 3 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in the D&C this past week.
a.Woman sues over denied land purchase (Community for whites only)
b. Miss Sweet Potato Pie to host literacy parade in August
c. Civil Rights Lawyer, King Advisor Dies at 95
OPPORTUNITIES:
17. We share opportunities to get involved in addressing some of the communities’ challenges. Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
18. See link below for active grant opportunities administered by the Rochester Area Community Foundation in the area of arts, culture, aging, youth, labor/management relations.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
19. Support the Black Community by supporting their businesses. Please share Black businesses you support and value. A good resource is “Black Owned in Rochester”
Black Owned Businesses Rochester NY Black-Owned In Rochester (blackownedinrochester.com)
20. It has become a wonderful breakfast and lunch spot at the corner of East Henrietta Road and Westfall Road in the Costco shopping plaza, The Toast Factory. Check it out!
The Toast Factory https://www.thetoastfactory.net/
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.