The 2nd Annual Jazz and Race Symposium
by Tyrone Francis & Molly Holdeman
The Racial Healing Commission’s 2nd annual Jazz & Race Symposium was held on Saturday, March 29, at St. Timothy’s in Greenville. It was well-attended, with a diverse audience of around 200 people from all over the Diocese and the state of North Carolina.
The event began with a welcome and invocation from Fr. John Porter-Acee, a jazz prelude from the “Skip Walker 5,” and acknowledgments from Molly Holdeman, Chair of the Racial Healing Commission. RHC member Dr. Orlando “Rick” Stovall gave a personal message and introduced the keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome, who serves as tri-Chair for Faith Communities for the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign Moral Movement, Chair of Personnel Department of the Governing Board of the NC Council of Churches, and Chief Strategist of the Executive Committee of the Presiding Elders’ Council of the AME Zion Church, and with numerous other organizations.
Rev. Broome gave a powerful delivery of her message, which focused on the “Pharaoh mentality” of today: racism, deportation, poverty, and the distortion of the Gospel to preach messages of hate and division. She used scripture to remind everyone that it is our responsibility not to harm or hurt the stranger or the foreigner in your country. Dr. Broome described jazz music as “creativity under suppression” and encouraged us to create a “symphony of justice” to find ways to make a difference in our communities and nation. She held a question and answer session following her message, and both she and audience members gave suggestions of what we all can do the make a difference, such as:
Use the 5 Calls app.
Call your local representatives.
Join an organization that is making a difference.
Attend Sacred Ground.
Attend the Episcopal Public Policy Network Zoom “What Can You Do Now? How to engage in advocacy in this moment” on Tuesday, April 1, at 7:pm.
Speak up every time you see an injustice.
Teachers and parents: use the church if needed to teach the truth to the youths.
Have open and honest conversations and remember to listen to understand not just listen to respond.
A reminder to all that Satan knows the Bible, too; read and educate yourself.
She also shared a handout from Repairers of the Breach entitled “High Moral Stakes” regarding the proposed budget in Washington, D.C. She closed by asking all in attendance to hold hands as she prayed.
Fr. Skip Walker provided some jazz history and, along with musicians Mike Acosta, Joe Lindsay, Carl Rouse, and Kia Walker, wowed the audience with their dynamic, improvisational performance. The audience was fully engaged, and many wondered how they can add jazz to their regular worship services.
Fr. John closed the event with a benediction, and a reception was held in the Parish Hall with food from The Scullery in Greenville, Angie’s Mexican Kitchen in Little Washington, and Cypress Glen Retirement Community. The Racial Healing Commission would like to thank St. Timothy’s for the gracious hospitality and all the volunteers, donors, and parish sponsors for helping make the event such a great success and looks forward to welcoming all of you to the 3rd annual Jazz & Race Symposium.
