The Busing and desegregation era in Boston was a watershed moment in our city’s history. The violence that met desegregation here was a shock to the nation as it clashed with Boston’s image and identity as a liberal-minded city.

Can We Talk? is a film by media producer Scott Mercer. The film was commissioned by Union of Minority Neighborhoods (UMN) to capture some on the voices that motivated UMN to begin the Boston Busing and Desegregation Project which looks at the impact that the Brown vs. the Board of education ruling had on the state of public education today.

The film offers powerful stories of the 1970’s busing/desegregation crisis that changed Boston forever. Most of those in the film have never publicly shared their stories. It aspires to prompt a long-overdue honest conversation about public education and racism, classism, and social injustices that have plagued not only the Boston public schools, but the city of Boston as a community.

Come meet UMN’s Donna Bivens and Executive Director Horace Small and hear their reflections on this project and watch a 20 minute clip of this powerful film.  What was your experience of the busing and desegregation era in Boston?  Please join us.

Thursday, October 10th, 7:30-9:00 pm
First Unitarian Society of Newton