A Town Hall Vision

Funded by the Fetzer Institute, the ALBC organized a planning meeting to envision ten Town Halls on wide ranging issues on Lincoln: race, freedom, and equality of opportunity on Tuesday July 22 at the Wilson International Center for Scholars. Chaired by Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. the meeting was moderated by Professors Adam Green and Charles Branham - two scholars knowledgeable about the history of the African American community and dedicated to broader public involvement and engagement.

Nearly 35 persons participated, including: representatives of the Fetzer Institute, museums, humanities councils, editors, Lincoln scholars, former Congressman Bill Gray, and members of the ALBC including Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Congressman Ray LaHood, and Gabor Boritt, with Jack Kemp, Judge Frank Williams, and Harold Holzer on the telephone. A draft vision statement was reviewed - please give us your thoughts on this.

Ten cities (regions) were proposed as sites including Miami, Atlanta, Chicago and Cincinnati. Doug Tanner, the founder of the Faith and Politics Institute, suggested that a another southern city be included in the group- possibly Richmond, Charleston, or New Orleans. In the coming weeks we will check with legislators, scholars, civic and spiritual leaders in those cities to determine interest in working with the ALBC to produce a Town Hall in 2009-10

Shirley Showalter shared her foundations's mission and its interest in Lincoln and leadership, compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation, and love. These words, she noted with some sense of irony, are not always empathetically received in D.C.- but Lincoln had these words in mind and heart.

John Stauffer, professor at Harvard University, spoke for 10 minutes about the parallel lives of Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist, and Lincoln, the poor man who became president. Lincoln's complex and evolving political stance on race was central to Stauffer’s talk. Stauffer is the author of a book to be published in November entitled Giants. Shirley Showalter felt that this was one of the most valuable parts of the meeting. Therefore with Stauffer's permission, we offer it to you.

Let me add that we hope that Professor Stauffer along with David Shubart from Exeter Academy, Governor Deval Patrick, many Boston colleges, historical societies, civic leaders and schools and businesses from the high tech corridor will host a Town Hall featuring youth.

While the subject of race now seems to impact on every aspect of American life, these Town Halls will only succeed with the help and ideas of many across the nation. Linking complex historical thought and current issues is, we hope, courageous and not foolhardy. We are buoyed by the extraordinary efforts of so many exceptional people as we begin this adventure.

Please share your thoughts. Would you or an organization in which you are active host an event? Please submit your ideas on content and speakers. What would make this effort meaningful to you?

What outcome would you envision? As Edna Green Medford said: what is the bottom line?

Posted by Hasan Aloul at 08/04/2008 12:00:24 PM |