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Camden residents will learn and discuss how slavery and Black people shaped American democracy on Tuesday after viewing an episode of an award-winning docuseries. Veronica Jones, founder of Diaspora TEA, a business dedicated to educational programming, will host a free screening of the first episode of “The 1619 Project” at La Unique African American Bookstore & Cultural Center, 111 North 6th St., near Camden City Hall, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The six-episode miniseries that aired on Hulu in 2023 explored the role slavery and Black Americans had in shaping the nation. The first episode, “Democracy,” delves into myths about the nation’s founding, Black patriotism, voting, and threats to democracy, according to the Pulitzer Center, which collaborated with the project to provide free teaching materials to the public, among other things. Before the event, organizers will provide a light lunch to attendees, who will discuss what they learned after the screening, Jones said. Jones, who scheduled the screening on election day, said she hopes attendees will leave the event with a better understanding of the history of democracy in the nation. “One of the important things is that the documentary as a whole positions people of African descent as a forefront of that conversation about democracy,” Jones said. “That hasn’t always been the case, and it’s kind of a new way of looking at it … it centers African Americans in democracy.” The event is hosted in collaboration with BEYOGA Wellness Network, an inclusive yoga studio and La Unique African American Bookstore & Cultural Center, a Camden-based organization centered around African and Black art, literature and culture. The event is funded through a grant Jones received from the Pulitzer Center.
