Dr. Mary Johnson, from Facing History and Ourselves, spoke at an evening
presentation hosted by Monroe Community College's Holocaust Genocide Studies
Project on Oct. 16 at the Damon City Campus.
Johnson presented on the topic "Holocaust and Human Rights Education: The
Facing History Model." She engaged the audience by having them read aloud from
a personal account of one man's experience with racism in the 1950s. The
reading led to a lengthy discussion about the many elements that shape human
decision-making and behaviors, especially when facing racism.
"History is about being human," said Johnson, who has conducted workshops and
programs on tolerance and Holocaust studies for nearly 20 years. "It's about
human nature and how we make decisions. It is only by understanding ourselves,
that we can understand history."
Area high school students and educators also attended the program that featured
student-designed poster displays and Holocaust & Human Rights traveling exhibit
modules. Students such as James Campanaro, a freshman at Arcadia Middle School
in Greece, spoke about their experiences working on the poster project which
asked the question "Is a America a Tolerant Society?" The project was initiated
by Shaun Nelms, who teaches social studies at Arcadia.
"I appreciate having MCC bring the traveling exhibits into our school," said
Nelms. "Finding the root [of hate] is a hard thing to do, but if you can face
it, you can stop it."
Holocaust survivor Helen Levinson, about whom one of the traveling exhibits is
focused, also attended the event.
Next on the calendar for the Holocaust Genocide Studies Project's 2002-2003
Distinguished Lecture Series: Professor Ward Churchill will speak on "Genocide
by any other name: Holocaust and Denial in America-1942 to the Present" on Nov.
6 at 7:00 pm in the MCC Theatre. In addition to being a professor of ethnic
studies at the University of Colorado, Churchill is an author/editor,
spokesperson and activist for Native Americans. The presentation is part of the
annual Kristallnacht program.
Rosanna Condello
Public Affairs
10/18/2002 |