Pass Over – Resources and References

Our partners at The Denver Public Library recommend these library resources to enhance your theatre experience.

Read

Men we Reaped: a memoir by Jessmyn Ward. Over the course of five years Jessmyn Ward lost five of the men in her life, reeling from grief and grappling with her anger and despair she slowly realized that their deaths were all connected by a thread that was so obvious that Ward states she felt stupid for not seeing it. In recounting the stories of these men she is recounting a tale of racism and apartheid in the United States today, and while her cast of characters are rural they could easily fill in for Kitch or Moses, anyone of them. Luminous, heartbreaking, powerful. 

Watch

Charm City (2019, Documentary, Dir. Marilyn Ness). Like Moses and Kitch, America seems to be waiting on a justice that never arrives. And in those communities where the police, the local government, and the people are locked in a violent impasse, where does one begin? Marilyn Ness’ 2019 documentary Charm City, offers an intimate look at those people working to heal their communities. This documentary was filmed over a three-year period in Baltimore, during which time the murder rate broke national records and the relationship between the police and the African-American community hit at an all-time low. The camera follows three distinct groups, each working for the community in their own ways: East Baltimore’s Rose Street Community Center, the Baltimore Police beat cops, and a young, idealistic City Councilman. A nuanced film, with hope and heartbreak in equal measure.

Listen

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. Did the play make you have feelings about race that you’re not sure what to do with? Do you want to talk about race with someone but don’t want to put the burden on your friends of color? Ijeoma Oluo addresses many topics covered in the play and common in our world, such as police brutality, the n word, the phrase “check your privilege”, Black Lives Matter, and cultural appropriation. Read by veteran narrator Bahni Turpin everything is explained in a relatable manner that never feels like a lecture. Oluo includes personal anecdotes, advice, plus cultural history to make this appropriate for everyone to read before your next big gathering.

Download

The Talk: Race in America (PBS 2017) If you’re a person of color living in the United States you are probably well aware of “The Talk” but if you are white this conversation has most likely never come up. Known as “The Talk” made slightly famous by that P&G commercial, this is the conversation that African American families (and others of color) have with their children about how to behave in the presence of Police. This 2-hour documentary is organized into 6 segments each helmed by a different director as they navigate this complicated topic. Denver residents can access the streaming version on Kanopy.com.

Additional Reading, Resources and References

Race In Colorado: An Ongoing Investigation by Rocky Mountain PBS: This site includes a blog, links to videos and other local resources.

Challenges Facing Young Men of Color in Denver – Interactive Maps from the My Brother’s Keeper initiative Data by neighborhoods in Dever.

Racial Disparity in Colorado’s Prisons — The Colorado Independent

The Plight of Young Black Men: The Scars and the Crisis

Extensive Data Shows Punishing Reach of Racism for Black Boys – New York Times

Ending Black Racism Resources: A List from Soul2Soul Sisters

45% of Chicago’s young black men are out of school and jobless – Chicago Sun Times

There’s overwhelming evidence that the criminal-justice system is racist. — The Washington Post

Race in America 2019 – A report by the Pew Charitable Trust

The Ultimate White Privilege Statistics & Data Post