Are you curious about how the racial inequities that we see around us in Madison and across the nation came to be? Discover the learning experience that is transforming companies, organizations, school districts, and thousands of individuals in their communities. The purpose of the Black History for a New Day course is to understand together how the African American experience has shaped the world we all live in, and how allies can find roles supporting racial justice today.
Created by Nehemiah CEO Rev. Dr. Alex Gee to address racial disparities in Madison, WI, home to some of the highest racial disparities in the country, the course has fueled a movement of systemic change that has spread through the business, education, health, and faith sectors. The course is built on the principle that by rooting ourselves in our history, and understanding how we got here, we will move forward together to make a better world and a stronger local community.
Justified Anger has been leading the way since 2016 with community education on the systemic removal of African Americans’ integral contributions from the history commonly taught. Soon after, the excellent 1619 Project would gain the nation’s attention and amplify the need for this historical education. In partnership with the University of Wisconsin Afro American Studies Department, the course is grounded in scholarly research by the history professors that teach the course lectures. Professor and Department Chair Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara, says in her lecture that “African Americans created culture in some of the worst circumstances that the world has ever seen.” Dr. Clark-Pujara’s course teaching is inspired by what Bell Hooks calls “education as the practice of freedom.”
The course emphasizes both historical and contemporary lived experiences and is enhanced by personal stories and examples from everyday life that illustrate how history very much affects our present. Through nine weeks of lectures and group discussions, participants find a deep resonance between history, today’s cultural landscape, and our own cultural experience. The course ultimately inspires hope, allowing every person to play a part in the change. As Founder Rev. Dr. Alex Gee states, “If you don’t know the history, then you won’t be tethered to the solutions.”
Black History for a New Day is a course experience designed and proven to have a dynamic personal and systemic impact. Whether it is in our online or in-person learning environment, the course has been adapted for meaningful participation by both groups and individuals. As a part of Justified Anger’s Theory of Community Transformation, the course’s outcomes are backed by several studies demonstrating community and systemic change. Join us this fall in gaining an experiential knowledge that transforms communities for all.
