Today is Saturday, November 7. November is Native American Heritage month honoring the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous peoples. Yesterday, November 6 started Diwali, a five-day festival of lights representing the start of the Hindu New Year. Diwali celebrates the victory of the Good over Evil and Light over Darkness. Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11: This day recognizing and honoring those who served or are serving in the military was first observed as Armistice Day on the anniversary of the end of World War I. After further wars, it was renamed in the United States as Veterans Day. It’s observed with parades and with a moment of silence at 2:11 p.m. Eastern time.
Quote of the week: “Live your truth. When you live your truth, nobody can use your truth against you.” Charlamagne tha God, born Lenard McKelvey, is a media personality, author and producer. Born June 29, 1978 – Present.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Charlamagne tha God, born Lenard McKelvey, is a media personality, author and producer. Born June 29, 1978 – Present.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlamagne_tha_God
EVENTS
We are always looking for events related to race and culture, please share with us @ tcmitch1951@gmail.com
1. Monday, November 9 at 7:15 PM, St. Rita’s Church is hosting its “Voices from Within; Our Shared Future: Courageous Stories About Race and Belonging”. The program will be in-person and live streamed. See below for details.
2. The Gateways Music Festival in association with the U of R Eastman School of Music presents “Celebration! Gateways revisits Winston-Salem” on Monday, November 9 at 7:30 PM. See link below for details and to tune in.
Celebration! Gateways revisits Winston-Salem 🧡
3. Kit Miller shares that on Tuesday, November 10 from 5-7 pm there is a film and discussion featuring Freida Jacques, a clan mother of the Onondaga nation for over 50 years. See the flyer below.
‘You have a choice to follow your thoughts based on a loving purpose (the Good Mind) or let go of thoughts and certainly not build upon thoughts steeped in anger and thought. In most cases it takes thousands of thoughts to get to a point where you are harboring hate for someone and capable of violence.’ from The Discipline of the Good Mind, Freida J Jacques
4. The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema series features “My Brother’s Wedding”, Monday, November 23 at 7:00 PM. See below for tickets and details.
My Brother’s Wedding – Nov. 23 | The Little Theatre
5. George Yeadon shares information on the film “14th review” – Ava DuVernay’s galvanizing documentary, a fascinating and troubling companion piece to her Netflix documentary 13th, which takes a fiery look at American injustice. 14th is premiering at the New York film festival and will be released in cinemas on November 27 and available on Netflix on December 4. More information is found below.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
6. Here is a piece from Heather Cox Richardson. I realize many receive her daily emails, but this one is an important history of the earliest attempts to derail Reconstruction.
7. We share 3 pieces from the Medium Daily Digest, (some are Opinion pieces);
a. “Before Scott Colom: The History of Statewide Black Elected Officials in Mississippi“by William Spivey:
b. “Understanding Memphis Neighborhoods and Why Elon Musk Must Do Right By Them“ by William Spivey:
c. “A Black Man Putting Up Halloween Decorations Has a Seizure and Is Tased Seven Times by a Police…“ by William Spivey :
8. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – November 5, 2026
9. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. Borinquen Dance Theatre marks end of an era
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/11/05/borinquen-dance-theatre-marks-end-of-an-era/
b. Report calls for changes in child welfare system
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/10/29/report-calls-for-changes-in-child-welfare-system/
10. Here are 2 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in the D&C and U.S. Today this past week.
a. Head Start teachers question deregulation (program serves so many families of color, it appears to be directed towards them).
b. Machine Picks (AI Promises Faster Hiring, But Concerns Persist Over Who Gets Left Behind)
OPPORTUNITIES
11. 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”.
12. Liz Brown and The Elders and Allies group invites you to join their book club for the reading and discussion of the two book options, “The Little Book of Racial Healing” and “How to End Family Policing: From Outrage to Action”. See the flyer below for more information on the group and the schedule of dates for in-person meetings. Books will be provided.
13. Check out many of the programs available for City students to prepare for their education and careers. See link below.
Urban League of Rochester https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/youth
14. It is not too early to start planning and preparing for the many scholarships available to support students education. See link below.
Youth Education and Development — Urban League of Rochester https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/scholarships
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
15. 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)
16. With the holidays approaching could you use a quality photo of your family? Check out Denise, photographer specializing in portrait, wedding and event photography. See link below.
Denise Batiste Photography Rochester NY Reviews | Black-Owned In Rochester
If you have an item to include in future week’s sharing, we need to have it by noon on Friday.