For nearly a decade now David Bailey and Jim Somerville have invited you to read a book during Black History Month and then join us for a public conversation.

We think it’s time to take it up a notch.

David is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Arrabon, a Richmond-based nonprofit dedicated to “healing and cultivating reconciling communities.” Arrabon offers two experiential learning opportunities that could transform an interest in reconciliation into a true passion. One of these is in Washington, DC; the other is in Montgomery, Alabama. Visit arrabon.com to learn more and to see a video preview of each experience.

If you’re not ready for that kind of commitment, Jim invites you to try the stay-at-home option. Take some time during the month of February to:

1. Read The Souls of Black Folk, by W. E. B. Du Bois, a slim volume of remarkable depth and a helpful description of post-Civil War Amercia, or

2. Watch The Birth of a Nation, Directed by D. W. Griffith (all three hours and fifteen minutes are available on YouTube. Click HERE), or

3. Learn the words of Lift Every Voice and Sing, often called “The African-American National Anthem,” or

Do all three! And then join us in the Fellowship Hall of Richmond’s First Baptist Church at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 9, for a thoughtful discussion of the book, a viewing of several clips from the film, and a rousing rendition of Lift Every Voice.

We hope to see you there!