The True History of the
1917 East Saint Louis Race War
St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Church
November 7, 2021, 12-1pm
All are invited to join us for a discussion of the 1917 East Saint Louis “Race Riots,” led by Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Brown, S.J., Ph.D. Father Brown will discuss the three days of mob violence massacre in his home town, unpacking the causes of this horrific incident.
Guests are also welcome (but not required) to join for the Rock’s weekly Mass at 10am.
There will be a short break before the 12pm lecture with light refreshments in the parish gym. Guests are encouraged to watch this video before attending: https://youtu.be/7Tf0nrUGXV8
Joseph A. Brown, S. J., Ph.D., is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois. Presently, he is a Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is the founding Chair of the 1917 Centennial Commission & Cultural Initiative, Inc. The Commission coordinated activities commemorating the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riots, bringing to light the circumstances and aftermath of the bloody pogrom which was one of the most significant examples of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.
Teaching True Truth is a project of the Peace and Justice Commission at the Rock Church. The project focuses on education about the history of racism, and about teaching, as Sr. Thea Bowman says, the “true truth” about that history.