In September 2022, EHF will again sponsor a Traces of the Trade tour across the Diocese of Texas. Congregations are invited to host the documentary viewing of Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North and engage in dialogue facilitated by DeWolf descendant Dain Perry and wife Constance Perry. The tour is meant to serve churches and communities interested in exploring racial justice. Churches are encouraged to include community partners in this opportunity to deepen relationships and together create courageous spaces for all voices to be heard.

The documentary recounts one New England family’s involvement in the slave trade in the 18th and early 19th centuries against the backdrop of Northern business, communities and residents who condoned and benefited from slave trading.

For more than 18 years, Constance and Dain Perry have traveled the country utilizing the film as a starting point for churches and community groups to foster conversation and share stories. Their mission is to break down the barriers around us with words and stories spoken in relationship.

This invitation to gather for dinner, movie, and dialogue is a rich opportunity to move in a positive direction together, not alone. Constance, a professional educator and facilitator, emphasizes the importance of including everyone.

“The more diverse the audience is the more we are truly listening to each other, not just with our ears, but with our hearts and our humanity in a non-threatening way,” she says. “We can maybe begin to understand the challenges we all face and agree that we have work to do. But it’s through these conversations that we develop knowledge, that we begin to build trust and begin to build community so that together we can begin to break down the walls of racism.”

Watch Constance and Dain Perry talk about their racial reconciliation efforts with Episcopal churches.

 

Traces of the Trade Tour dates available are September 23 – 29, 2022

If you have questions about the tour or your congregation would like to host a screening and dialogue, please contact Eric Moen, Senior Congregational Engagement Officer, at emoen@episcopalhealth.org.

 

All Racial Justice work at EHF is coordinated in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and connected to TEC’s Becoming Beloved Community.