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Sunday Platform – Hugh Taft-Morales: “Racism and the Weight of History”
July 28, 2019 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
400 years of systemic racism and white supremacy in the United States has caused horrific damage to people and communities of color. Whites who acknowledge this damage and want to help heal the wounds of racism, however, sometimes are paralyzed by the weight of this history. How can we get beyond unproductive guilt so as to contribute to campaigns for real racial justice? Hugh Taft-Morales explores how he used history to recommit himself to anti-racism activism.
Hugh Taft-Morales serves as Leader of the Philadelphia Ethical Society and the Baltimore Ethical Society and is President of the National Leaders Council of the American Ethical Union (AEU). Hugh taught philosophy and history for twenty-five years in Washington, D. C., after which he transitioned into Ethical Culture Leadership. In April of 2009 he graduated from the Humanist Institute and was certified as an Ethical Culture Leader by the American Ethical Union (AEU) in 2010.
He serves as humanist clergy for the Ethical Culture, a 140+ old non-theist movement dedicated to honoring the worth of every person, growing ethical relationships, and building social justice. He is committed fully to the Ethical Society slogan – “deed before creed.” It matters more how you treat others than your stated belief system. Ending suffering requires heart, mind, and most of all action.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Taft-Morales graduated with a B.A. cum laude in American History from Yale University, 1979, and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Kent at Canterbury, England, 1986 He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, Maureen, a Latin American analyst for the Congressional Research Service. They have three wonderful adult children – Sean, Maya, and Justin. Hugh’s hobbies include yoga, dancing, singing and playing guitar, and “watching way too much sports.”
Shared Charity: Social Service Board
Presider: Dan Hanson
FREE and open to the public.
Sunday Platform is our most important and long-standing community event. These gatherings educate, stimulate personal growth, inspire reflection and action, and strengthen our community. Sunday meetings usually begin with music, followed by greetings and a talk given by a Society Leader, member, or guest. Platforms cover a variety of topics that reflect current events, pressing social issues, and Ethical Culture philosophy. A collection basket is passed and money is shared between the Society and a charity selected for that day. While contributions are always appreciated, Sunday meetings are free and open to the public. Each Sunday meeting is followed by a luncheon and social hour.
To view previous Sunday Platform addresses and interviews, visit the Ethical NYC YouTube channel.
