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Issue 107 | February, 2023
Social Justice Working Group Newsletter
"The Time is Always Right to do What is Right"
-Martin Luther King- 
The ORA Social Justice working group is charged with keeping ORA staff informed of opportunities to engage in activities on Emory’s campus and the greater Atlanta area around social justice, diversity, and inclusion. Our newsletter aims to provide relevant information and events to stay connected to the Emory and Atlanta community.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month when we remember all Black Americans' contributions and the struggles and injustices they have experienced in the past and today's society.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Black History Month is celebrated in other countries to recognize the positive impact of Black culture and sacrifices.
Despite all the progress, Black Americans are disproportionately affected by gun violence, imprisonment, and increased mortality rates, which has much to do with systematic racism.

However, we want to take the time to highlight all the contributions made in society that are often not taught in the school systems:



Did you know?
Tybee Island beach desegregation: young black activists organized wade-in activities in the early 60s. In Savannah, the white population insulted them with racial slurs, and they were taken to jail, They persisted in their efforts until the city was forced to desegregate the beach in 1963.

Hiram Rhodes Revels was sworn in as the first Black U.S. senator in 1870.
Events and Other Updates
SJWG Events

The SJWG will have a Black History Month Trivia on February 23 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. You can register here.

The SJWG will have a series on the 1619 Project. There will be six dates (3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 4/5, and 4/12) when we will show the series and have a post-viewing discussion from 12-1:15. You can register here.

Emory Events

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 12 p.m., Woodruff Library, Jones Room. Douglass Day- During this annual program on Frederick Douglass’ birthday, the Center for Black Digital Research at Pennsylvania State University gathers thousands of people to help create new and freely available resources for learning about Black history. This year, the Emory community will be transcribing and enriching the papers of abolitionist and women’s rights activist Mary Ann Shadd Cary. Sponsored by Emory Libraries and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Theater Lab. Theater Emory Presents “Our Town”-Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play has been translated into Spanish and Mandarin to show how American cities have changed. Professor Lydia Fort and Marguerite Hannah, producer at Atlanta’s Horizon Theatre, helm the production, which features Emory students and professional actors. Onstage at the Schwartz Center Theater Lab through Feb. 26.

Saturday, Feb. 18. Michael C. Carlos Museum Art Exhibit: “A Very Incomplete Self-Portrait.” A collection of photographer Tom Dorsey’s images of the West Side Chicago neighborhood where he grew up will be on display at the Carlos Museum starting this month through July 16

TAKE OUR SURVEY!
The ORA Social Justice Working Group (SJWG) wants your opinion on improving our 2023 program and increasing ORA employee engagement on social justice issues. 

Please take this brief survey (~10 mins) to let us know your thoughts and how you’d like to interact with the SJWG. Responses will be collected anonymously, so there will be no way to link responses to participants. We will have no way of knowing who took the survey or did not. Please plan on finishing the survey in one sitting since you cannot save your results to return to the survey later.

The survey will be open until March 13, 2023.