Paducah's Racial Unity Group plans to show the free film, "Racial Taboo," at 2pm at Heartland Worship Center.
The film was directed by Brian Grimm several years ago as he came to terms with his own feelings about race issues.
Beth Khadem of the Racial Unity Group says that until recently, Grimm thought all people should find a way to, "pull themselves up by their boot straps."
"When he realized that that kind of thinking presumed that the playing field was level for everyone, and then realized that is was not, it really flipped his thinking. And he wanted to make a film that showed his journey and the journey that is potentially in all of us to understand race in a different way," Khadem said.
The Racial Unity Group formed after the movie was shown a couple of years ago, when folks decided to actively continue the conversation.
Group member Brad Holland added that the movie helps break the ice so everyone can get rid of preconceived notions about one another and real conversations can happen.
He said the group's meetings are, "the cheapest form of therapy you can get," and people come into the group knowing it's a safe place to talk.
"They really open up...it has been a very, very good tool for the Paducah community to use," Holland said.
Rev. Raynarldo Henderson said what's happened is that people have moved from being acquaintances to being friends, which makes it easier to talk about difficult things.
Henderson said, "Though you may not say a certain thing the right way, that other person knows your heart - they know what you're trying to say. So that lends itself to some honest conversation. If we're talking about making our communities better, this is a good place to begin."
Racially tense moments pop up from time to time in every city or town, but this group hopes to be pro-active, rather than having to respond if an incident arises.
After the film, there will be an opportunity to stay for about an hour of conversation.
On the Net:
Race Unity Group of Paducah on FacebookRacial Taboo film website
