Cousins

Click here to purchase tickets here.

“I hope the experiences of Betty and Phoebe will inspire others to sit down at the table of sisterhood and brotherhood to promote racial healing.” – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia

Betty and Phoebe have been telling their story on BBC News, at Virginia Tech, and in a Netflix documentary. Now they’re bringing their powerful story of reconciliation to Lancaster. This extraordinary evening of storytelling will feature an African American woman, Dr. Betty Kilby Baldwin, and a European American woman, Phoebe Kilby, whose ancestors enslaved Betty’s. Their relationship began when Phoebe contacted Betty, saying she suspected they were connected through slavery. Betty responded, “Hello, Cousin.” Betty, a life-long advocate and trail-blazer, found an activist partner in Phoebe. Together they have committed to a path of honesty, reconciliation, and reparations. Click here to purchase tickets here.

Hear the authors – “two-woman, racial-reconciliation juggernaut” (Baltimore Sun) speak at our May 7 event. 

COUSINS BOOK STUDY RESOURCES

Cousins is perfect for individuals or groups looking to address the often uncomfortable topics of racial justice and reparations with honesty, humility, and even humor. Below are resources we have compiled to help your book clubs, Sunday school classes, and other groups start conversations about concrete actions that can be taken. Interested in doing a group study then coming to the event? Groups can purchase discounted tickets (for 10+ tickets). Each ticket includes a free book, which can be picked up early at the PRC office to facilitate your group study prior to the event.

Book Discussion Guide: 

• Cousins Discussion Guide (created by the authors)

Video Resources:

• Stories of a Generation with Pope Francis – episode 2 (requires a Netflix account), 46 min
• Unlikely Relatives: BBC News, 6 min
• Article and Video Interview: Guideposts, 5 min
• Poise Foundation Fireside Chat Interview, 58 min

Reparations Resources:

• Reparations Guide from Coming to the Table (https://comingtothetable.org/)
• Information on the Kilby Family Endowed Scholarship Fund: https://www.poisefoundation.org/kilby-family-endowed-scholarship-fund

Genealogy Resources:

• Our Black Ancestry: https://ourblackancestry.com/
• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society: https://www.aahgs.org/
• Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/

“This powerful book weaves together eloquent stories of two impressive women – stories of survival, determination, and awakening, of honesty, spirituality, and success. They give us a detective story and a mystery, a reconciliation and a celebration. A reader will be grateful for all of them.” – Edward L. Ayers, recipient of the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama

Hear the authors speak at our May 7 event.

You can learn more and purchase tickets here.

This event is sponsored in part by the Walters/Unitarian Universalist Church Trust, an endowment from Arthur and Selma Walters to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster in support of events that affirm the worth and dignity of all humans and that strive to increase the awareness of and respect for our environment.

“With truth, reparations, racial healing, and reimagining public safety initiatives in hundreds of municipalities, Cousins is a story that could not be more timely.” – Fania E. Davis, social justice activist, civil rights attorney, restorative justice leader