The US and the Holocaust Documentary Film Screening & Discussion Series (6 weeks)

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Program Description

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Ken Burns' PBS documentary, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” is an examination of what American politicians, journalists, and civilians did and did not know about the Holocaust, and how they responded or didn’t respond to the atrocities. We will view the documentary and discuss this important history and the parallels between what happened then and what is happening today. Instances of hate are occurring locally and across the country, and they are both striking and deeply concerning. We must react differently than we did in the past if we wish to live in a society without racism and authoritarianism.  

The Portsmouth Public Library in collaboration with NH PBS and The Cohen Center will be hosting a film screening and discussion series of this acclaimed and powerful documentary. This series of programs will run for six consecutive weeks, Wednesday, April 19 through May 24 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. 

Each two-hour session will include an hour of film viewing, short presentations by guest speakers, and facilitated conversations in small and large groups. In addition to racism, authoritarianism, and the Holocaust, we will address how educators can teach about these challenging subjects and how the newly enacted Divisive Concepts law in NH impacts their work.

The program will be facilitated by Anne Romney. Anne is a Portsmouth resident and an educator/group facilitator who is committed to anti-racism/social justice education. She is a co-facilitator of the program White People Challenging Racism and created an online program called Standing Up to Racism which has been offered widely in the Seacoast area.

Guest speakers include the son of Nazi industrialists and perpetrators who has dedicated his life to Holocaust studies and now lives in New Hampshire, a Bedford, NH educator who teaches Genocide Studies to high school students, a survivor of the Holocaust who now resides in New Hampshire, the Coordinator of Educational Outreach for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College's Cohen Center who also serves on the NH Commission on Holocaust and Genocide Education, and a representative from NH PBS who will share important educational resources for the public, students and educators to learn more about these important topics.  More speakers are to be announced. 

This educational series is free and open to the public. Registration is required. You may attend one or all six of the programs in the series.