Reparations Debates across North Carolina HBCUs, Expand to National Program
Repairers of the Breach
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: March 21, 2023
Contact: Michael Holloman, michael.holloman@berlinrosen.com, 757-955-5804
Phoebe Rogers, phoebe.rogers@berlinrosen.com, 914-343-9063
Color Farm Media to Host Series of Reparations Debates across North Carolina HBCUs, Expand to National Program
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Upcoming St. Augustine University Debate to Feature Erika Alexander, Bishop William Barber, Student Leaders
Raleigh, North Carolina - Color Farm Media, the team behind “The Big Payback” documentary, announced plans to host a National Reparations Debate at St. Augustine University on Tuesday, March 21, featuring actress Erika Alexander and President of Repairers of the Breach and Co-Chair of the Poor People's Campaign Bishop William Barber.
Color Farm Media is partnering with HBCUs across North Carolina to host a series of National Reparations Debates, inspired by the historic 1965 James Baldwin-William Buckley debate. The debates will unite the most brilliant civil rights and moral leaders with student-thinkers in a face-off at America’s universities and colleges, debating one of the greatest questions of the 21st century. Renowned MSNBC reporter Joy Reid is among the coaches for future debates.
WHO: St. Augustine University student leaders, Erika Alexander, Bishop William Barber
WHAT: National Reparations Debate
WHEN: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 from 11 am - 1 pm ET
WHERE: St. Augustine University, Seby Jones Fine Arts Center
1315 Oakwood Avenue Raleigh, North Carolina 27610-2298
The series of debates kicked off this year at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. The first phase of the initiative will feature 10 HBCUs across North Carolina including Bennett College, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s University, Johnson C. Smith University, Fayetteville State University, Livingstone College, North Carolina A&T State University, Elizabeth City State University, Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central University.
Future phases of the initiative will expand to include debates at both HBCUs and non-HBCUs across the United States. The event series is partnering with Ben & Jerry’s, who will be on location at every North Carolina HBCU event disseminating social impact materials, scooping ice cream, and serving a special, unique menu item in honor of “The Big Payback” film; “Reparations Now! Root Beer Float.”
ABOUT “THE BIG PAYBACK”
In the summer of 2019, rookie Illinois Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons ushered in the first legislation of its kind in the United States: Resolution 126-R-19, which devoted funds to local reparations for Black residents in Evanston, Illinois. “The Big Payback” follows Simmons as she leads the community in the uphill battle to obtain reparations—payments meant to correct for the historic systematic bias inflicted upon descendants of African American slaves. The film is co-directed by Erika Alexander (“Living Single,” “John Lewis: Good Trouble”) and Whitney Dow (“Two Towns of Jasper,” “Whiteness Project”).
ABOUT COLOR FARM MEDIA
Color Farm Media is a 21st-century entertainment, innovation, and social impact company. Self-described as the “Motown of film, TV, and tech,” Color Farm develops and produces premium-quality scripted and unscripted content for motion picture, television, streaming, and podcast platforms. Color Farm produces content featuring multicultural characters and storylines for global multicultural audiences, bringing bold, unique stories to screens of all sizes. Color Farm’s credits include the Emmy-nominated documentary film John Lewis: Good Trouble, the award-winning Audible Original series Finding Tamika, and the critically acclaimed documentary film, The Big Payback. Color Farm’s co-founders are actress, writer, producer and activist Erika Alexander, and media/tech entrepreneur and activist Ben Arnon.
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