Weeksville Heritage Center, in partnership with the Free Black Women’s Library, presents a collective study and discussion on Jan. 20, focused on Black feminist scholar Joy James’ essay Black Suffering in Search of the Beloved Community.
Taking place in observance of MLK Day, the gathering creates a space for shared reading and reflection on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the beloved community in the context of ongoing state violence and social conditions that prioritize individual survival over collective liberation.
The session, which starts at 7:00pm, invites participants in a guided, communal inquiry that emphasizes close reading, dialogue, and expressive response. Rather than approaching the text as an academic exercise alone, the study encourages readers to engage emotionally, intellectually and creatively with James’ work, considering how her ideas resonate within contemporary struggles for justice and solidarity.
Participants will receive the essay in advance of the program and are encouraged to arrive prepared to reflect, listen, and contribute to the conversation. Attendees are welcome to bring a notebook and an open mind. Food and refreshments will be provided.
The study will be hosted by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, Weeksville’s inaugural Curator-in-Residence. A writer, historian and educator, Rhodes-Pitts has published widely on African American history, politics and culture.
Rhodes-Pitts is an associate professor of writing at Pratt Institute and organizes collaborative public projects through The Freedwomen’s Bureau, fostering collective learning and public engagement.
