GREENFIELD The final two virtual programs of Greenfield Community College’s Senior Symposia this fall are diverse in content, with one exploring why conversation is a necessary precursor for achieving racial equity and justice, and another.
Fern, Marlene and their sons Will and Julius in a family photo (Courtesy Marlene Fine)
It s difficult for most white people to talk about race whether among themselves or with people of color. Well, two white scholars who raised Black children want more white people to understand the Black experience.
Host Lisa Mullins talks with
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Amber Ruffin and her sister Lacey Lamar grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Amber moved to New York City where, in 2014, she became the first ever black female writer on a network late-night show when she joined the staff of “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” She still works there, writing and appearing on camera - often singing - always hilarious - and in September of 2020, NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock premiered “The Amber Ruffin Show” - a no-guest and, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, audience-less half-hour where Ruffin and the show’s announcer, her friend, Tarik Davis, wear zazzy suits and talk about current events.
On their first memories of recognizing race:
Johnson (who was raised in a Christian family in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota):
Our street and our whole suburb was white. And I remember that a Black family moved down the street from us. And then it wasn t long after that when . I realized that they were moving out. And so I had heard my parents talking about a meeting. My dad was going to a meeting about this family. And then . I kind of started to put it together. And so I asked my parents, Why did they move? I believe it was just my mother who answered the question. And she said, Well, they moved because they would really be happier living someplace else. End of story.