Course Description: This virtual course is structured for participants to gain a greater understanding of the construction and issues of race and racism. Talking about race is uncomfortable and overwhelming. The goal of this course is to empower and equip participants toward enlightenment and advocacy for anti-racism work at all capacities (i.e. student, community leader, clergy, etc.). This is accomplished through online sessions, reviewing case studies, news articles, group discussions, short videos, documentaries, and selective journal articles. Each participant will sign a course covenant: a pledge to be dedicated to the course time and dates, uplift participants, respect participants, listen to participants, and be accountable for one’s conduct.

Kirk Johnson’s Biography: Dr. Kirk A Johnson teaches courses in Medical Humanities, Bioethics, Global Issues, Philosophy and Religion. Preferred pronouns are he/him/his. He received his Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Drew Theological School and his Doctorate in Medical Humanities (DMH) from Drew University. He is a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities and The New York Academy of Medicine. He serves as a member of the Atlantic Health Systems Bioethics Committee, former Assistant Director of the Medical Humanities program at Drew University and fellow emeritus of The American Heart Association’s Multicultural Initiatives Leadership Fellowship Program. Dr. Johnson has published articles in the Journal of Religion and Health and upcoming contributions in numerous books. His recent book is Medical Stigmata: Race, Medicine, and the Pursuit of Theological Liberation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). He is clergy in the United Church of Christ.

PART ONE: ORIGINS OUTLINE:

Session 1: Introduction, Course Covenant, Term Review Session 2: Race as Myth Session 3: Race as Language and Meaning Session 4: Race as Law Session 5: Race in Space/Place Session 6: Anti-Racism

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE COURSE: Meets virtually weekly on Tuesdays, starting March 9th from 7pm-9pm. Scholarships are available on request. Course materials are included. Tuition is $350. To register, email the NJ Association UCC at [email protected] You will sign a course covenant with check payable to the “NJA of the CAC” for $350 or a $100 deposit to the New Jersey Association UCC 195 Ridgewood Ave Glen Ridge NJ 07028