WEST BRATTLEBORO — All Souls Church, 29 South St., will continue its film series “Looking Inward at White Power and Privilege” with a screening of Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible on Sunday, Feb. 25, at noon, proceeded by a simple lunch.
The film, produced by World Trust, is the third in the continuing series and will be followed by a discussion. There is no admission charge for the film or for the light lunch that precedes it.
According to a World Trust news release, the film is designed to help bridge the gap between good intentions and meaningful change. The film features stories from white men and women on overcoming issues of unconscious racism and entitlement.
In its description of the film, World Trust writes, “After many years of doing diversity work, we recognized that an unhelpful pattern often emerged in the learning environment. In a typical workshop, people of color were asked to share their stories. The people of color in the seminar had a lot to say and a need to be heard and understood.
“White people were usually overwhelmed by what was shared, and moved into guilt, shame, or denial. That left the people of color vulnerable to judgment or rejection by the white participants. People of color often ended up being the source of 'the problem' without any real learning taking place.
“An unintended consequence, this pattern blocked healing and reinforced the fracture that racial misunderstanding causes all too frequently. It was clear that to enable participants to move beyond historical and contemporary understanding about race, that pattern needed to change and different tools were needed.”
As the name suggests, “Mirrors of Privilege” focuses on white people to allow them to find their own voice and then reflect on how they may view the racial world.
World Trust, according to its website, offers Racial Equity Learning modules that support transformative learning while promoting institutional change through opportunities for self-discovery and collaboration.
The film series is sponsored by the All Souls Church Social and Environmental Action Committee.