Page 4
December 4, 2019
Dispelling
Misconceptions
C ontinued from p age 3
licize the event, presented by
REAP, Inc. and Africa House in
partnership with The Bridge.
“It’s the journey,” he said.
“We all recognize that we come
from the same place – Africa –
so the journey begins with the
sounds of Africa with music by
different groups with African
drums and African bands.”
Thomas is also preparing a
video presentation of the jour-
ney, he said, “that shows all the
experiences we’ve had – coloni-
zation, slavery – and our experi-
ences to try to be free with our
own rights.”
There will also be presenta-
tions of the history of blacks in
Oregon, “from Vanport and be-
yond,” Thomas said.
At the day-long event on Sat-
urday, the sounds of Africa will
again welcome attendees before
a day of seminars and speakers
on a wide variety of topics re-
lating to the black experience,
Thomas said.
“There will be (morning)
seminars on PTSD, misconcep-
tions among Africans and Af-
rican Americans, how religion
was used to divide us as a peo-
ple, and more,” he said. After
a “Taste of the World” lunch,
afternoon seminars include top-
ics such as fathers in the home,
self-love, building bridges:
working together intentionally,
and economic empowerment.
Many prominent members of
the black community will also
speak during the event, includ-
ing Nkenge Harmon-Johnson
of the Urban League of Port-
land, Ron Herndon of Albina
Head Start, Djimet Dogo of
Africa House, Dr. Alisha More-
land-Capuia and Daniel Capuia
of the Capuia Foundation and
Dr. Koffi Dessou, City of Port-
land Office of Equity and Hu-
man Rights, and Imam Mikal
Hammad Shabazz of the Oregon
Islamic Chaplains Organization.
The day will end with a heal-
ing session, Thomas said, “on
what was learned in the two
days along with a declaration of
how we build going forward –
a time to hear one another out,
and to heal and move forward.”
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