Day of Remembrance 2024: Paying It Forward

The Social Justice Committee of the Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League
and the East Side Freedom Library
invite you to an online screening and discussion of

Reparations

a documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Jon Osaki

Sunday, February 18, 2024

2–4 PM CST

Reparations explores the four-century struggle to seek repair and atonement for slavery in the United States. Black and Asian Americans reflect on the legacy of slavery, the inequities that persists, and the critical role that solidarity between communities has in acknowledging and addressing systemic racism in America. This story is told by Black and Asian Americans who believe that our collective liberation can only be achieved by standing with one another. Reparations seeks to raise awareness of the Black reparations struggle and how vital it is to healing this country. (From the website Stop Repeating History.)

Please register for this Zoom event through the East Side Freedom Library website Registration. 

Guest Panelists

Jon Osaki is an award-winning filmmaker who has directed and produced promotional, educational, narrative, and documentary films. His initial interest in film grew from his desire to share the stories of the Japanese Community Youth Council, where he has served as Executive Director since 1996. Over the past few years, he has had films screened at film festivals and community events across the country. As a filmmaker, Jon views this genre as the next step in his lifelong pursuit of social justice and equity. (From the New Day Films website.)

James Curry is a producer, director, writer, editor, educator and author who has been active in filmmaking for over 30 years. In 2022 he was awarded the Arthur C. McWatt Fellowship where he created an historical exhibit on Black Pioneers and a graphic novel based on his ancestors’ narrative called Hate Stings. He is a descendant of the Curry family of Southside Minneapolis and the chairperson of Building Remembrance for Reconciliation (BR4R.org). He teaches film and production at Augsburg University and builds community through partnerships with historical societies, individuals, and faith-based organizations. (Adapted from the Ramsey County Historical Society website.)

Benjamin Mchie is the founder of African American Registry and a Multi-Media Professional for over 38 years. He directs, produces, operates camera and edits. Mchie has received 6 Emmy’s and 2 MTV award/nominations. His media formats are features, corporate, commercials, music videos, documentaries, game shows, broadcast sports and more. His current work is producing media that ‘normalizes’ the image of the Black experience in his work with African American Registry.

Rev. Pamela Ngunjiri is a transplant to Minnesota by way of Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and Portland, Oregon. She is currently writing her dissertation on white supremacy and its entanglement with the Christian Church to complete the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership, with an emphasis on Global and Contextual Leadership, at Bethel University. She is currently employed as a Co-Director of Racial Justice at the Minnesota Council of Churches and is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Kimmy Tanaka has a diverse work experience spanning multiple industries. In 2017, they took on the role of Program Supervisor at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote, and later became a Historic Site Interpreter at Mill City Museum. During this time, they also worked as a Web Development and Research Fellow at the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. Most recently, they have been serving as the Community Engagement Manager at the Minnesota Historical Society since 2022.