Our History, Black History

6-week intensive for the curious and the brave

Registration

September 1 to October 6, Mondays 6 pm to 8 pm EST

Course Description

The social history tradition which was championed so skillfully in Howard Zinn’s classic A People’s History of the United States will be a significant point of departure in this Heart Light Action history intensive, titled Our History: Black History. What kind of pictures of the past emerge when our palette includes the voices of people from diverse backgrounds?

The course also includes an examination of selections from the work of Walter Rodney, W.E.B. DuBois, Tera Hunter and June Jordan.

A key focus will be the application of what Dr. Brown calls “diaspora identity” in which we locate our personal and family stories within larger historical narratives. We will learn how to unpack our investments in the stories we inherit. With wakeful curiosity we seek to uncover a more user-friendly connection with our human heritage. Some of the topics we will cover include

As we encounter attacks on historical narratives seeking to balance the exclusions and distortions of our multifaceted past, our job is to be steadfast in our efforts to use understanding as bridge and resource for solidarity, pride and respect. We will utilize the seven skills of contemplative social action which include meditation, shared leadership and action planning. This course will be particularly helpful for racial justice activists and advocates. Everyone is welcome.

About the Teacher

About Damita Brown

Dr. Damita Brown holds a doctorate in History of Consciousness (Univ. California, Santa Cruz, 2000) and specializes in practical applications of meditation practice to help people interrupt and dismantle racism and other misuses of power. Her scholarship focused on theories of power, social change movements, Black feminist thought, social history and cultural studies. Her involvement in social justice issues began at age 13. She has worked on ending racism, environmental justice, LGBTQ, peace in the Middle East, Books not Bars to end mass incarceration, universal access to health care and ending homelessness among other issues.

Dr. Brown taught History, ethnic studies, political science and Black studies at University of California, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, Mills College and in numerous community-based frameworks. The contemplative social action approach she has developed encourages the cultivation of kindness, openness, self-love and self-direction. Her application of this approach began with incarcerated youth in 2008 then expanded to activists, meditators, educators and others. In 2018 she developed the Community Lab for Intentional Practice (CLIP) which has been used in Iowa City Iowa and Madison, Wisconsin. In 2017/18 Dr. Brown developed Freedom School 360 which brought together activists and organizers to learn meditation and share skills for protecting and advancing democratic organization of society. Currently, she teaches Contemplative social action in a variety of formats including online courses, in-person workshops and in-person Heart Light Card Parties.

Heart Light Cards: Contemplation and Activities for Ending Racism (2023) offers ways for people to host gatherings in their own homes that teach anti-racism skills. Currently she is working with a team of Black meditators to offer Our Power, Our Peace: Black Meditation Retreat in 2026. Dr. Brown’s forthcoming book on Contemplative Social Action is expected this Fall.

Dr. Brown’s teaching approach is hands-on. She creates exercises that allow participants to speak from their wealth of personal knowledge as well as experiment with activities that shake up our preconceived notions and assumptions. Her approach is supported by her academic research as well as her experience with Nonviolent Communication, Transformative Justice circle facilitation, Rosen Method Bodywork and Re-evaluation counseling.

Registration Details

When you click the registration button you will be able to complete a registration form and place a deposit to save your spot. Once you submit that form you will receive a

The suggested fee is $200. Scholarships are available. No one will be denied entry for lack of funds. So please do not allow money to deter your interest in taking this course. Contact us at Heartlightaction@gmail.com with questions.