Cousins: Connected Through Slavery

500 East Roseville Road,Lancaster PA 17603

07 May, 2022

Description

An African American woman and a European American woman discover their shared roots and work towards reconciliation and reparations together Cousins: Connected Through Slavery "I hope the experiences of Betty and Phoebe will inspire others to sit down at the table of sisterhood and brotherhood to promote racial healing." - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia Betty and Phoebe have been telling their story on BBC News, at Virginia Tech, and in a Netflix documentary. Now they’re bringing their powerful story of reconciliation to Lancaster. This extraordinary evening of storytelling will feature an African American woman, Dr. Betty Kilby Baldwin, and a European American woman, Phoebe Kilby, whose ancestors enslaved Betty’s. Their relationship began when Phoebe contacted Betty, saying she suspected they were connected through slavery. Betty responded, “Hello, Cousin.” Betty, a life-long advocate and trail-blazer, found an activist partner in Phoebe. Together they have committed to a path of honesty, reconciliation, and reparations. They will tell stories about how they have explored the truths of their lineages and very different life experiences. They will also talk openly about how they continue to create family connections across racial divides and generations. A copy of their recent book, Cousins, will be included with every adult ticket (free youth tickets do not include a book). In alternating chapters, each woman tells her story—from Betty’s experience as one of the first Black children to attend her desegregated school, to Phoebe’s privileged life and eventual wish to repair the harms. This wish turned into an active reparations project - the Kilby Family Endowed Scholarship Fund - which Phoebe and Betty conceived of and run together. The authors' proceeds from book sales of Cousins as well as speaking fees from events like this one are put into their scholarship fund. "This powerful book weaves together eloquent stories of two impressive women - stories of survival, determination, and awakening, of honesty, spirituality, and success. They give us a detective story and a mystery, a reconciliation and a celebration. A reader will be grateful for all of them." - Edward L. Ayers, recipient of the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama This family-friendly event is perfect for individuals or groups looking to address the often uncomfortable topics of racial justice and reparations with honesty, humility, and even humor. A discussion guide, created with the authors, and other resources are available (https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/cousins/) to help book clubs, Sunday school classes, and other groups start conversations about concrete actions that can be taken. Discounted group tickets for 10 or more tickets and free student tickets for youth under 18 (without book) are available. Dr. Betty Kilby Fisher Baldwin grew up in rural Culpeper and Warren counties, Virginia, one of five children. Thanks to her father's determination, she entered and graduated from Warren County High School after suing the school board, based on the landmark Supreme Court Brown vs. Board of Education decision of 1954. Betty started her employment as a factory worker and climbed the corporate ladder to achieve executive management employment. After she retired, she wrote and published her autobiography, Wit, Will & Walls. Betty has four children. She and her husband are based in Texas, but spend much of their time traveling the U.S. in their RV. Betty is actively involved in Coming to the Table, and speaks frequently with Phoebe about making connections across the racial divide to create a more just and peaceful world. Phoebe Kilby grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where she lived with her physician father, mother, and sister. Phoebe had a long career as an urban and environmental planner, working on contracts with local, state, and federal governments. With concerns about the morality and wisdom of war and a growing interest in peace, Phoebe studied extensively at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. A descendant of enslavers, Phoebe was inspired by the Coming to the Table movement to connect with descendants of persons her family enslaved. She is dedicated to helping others, European Americans and African Americans together, to uncover and explore the truths of their experiences and move toward racial reconciliation. With Betty, she continues to pursue a common grace. "With truth, reparations, racial healing, and reimagining public safety initiatives in hundreds of municipalities, Cousins is a story that could not be more timely." - Fania E. Davis, social justice activist, civil rights attorney, restorative justice leader This evening is sponsored in part by the Walters/Unitarian Universalist Church Trust, an endowment from Arthur and Selma Walters to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster in support of events that affirm the worth and dignity of all humans and that strive to increase the awareness of and respect for our environment. There are no refunds for this event.