MANSFIELD — Racism in America can sometimes feel like an insurmountable problem, with few solutions. In the months since the death of George Floyd at the hands of White police officers on Memorial Day in Minneapolis, the country has launched arguably the most significant modern movement against racism in the United States. Yet, the problem […]
Shop Talk
419 Barbershop in Mansfield, Ohio has partnered with Richland Source, DRM Productions and Mankind Murals, to bring you a series of open, honest discussions on race and reconciliation.
Posted inSolutions
Educators talk honestly about race and America’s past in Shop Talk
MANSFIELD — The narratives in our history books aren’t always an accurate depiction of the past. In the majority of classrooms K-12 across the country, students learn about African American heritage starting with enslavement in the U.S. colonies. As a result, many Americans are taught little about the history of systemic racism and the many […]
Posted inSolutions
Shop Talk explores emotions of race, femininity and motherhood
MANSFIELD — In the eight minutes and 46 seconds George Floyd lay on the pavement, suffocating under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, he managed to gasp America’s most haunting phrase: “I can’t breathe.” Then, he called for his mother. It produced a visceral reaction for six women discussing race, femininity and motherhood in […]
Posted inSolutions
Introducing Shop Talk, a series of conversations about race and reconciliation in Mansfield
MANSFIELD — Change and growth is never easy. Perhaps one of the most challenging human experiences is self-reflection. It’s hard work to grow your understanding of who you are, what your values are, and why you think and act the way you do. Especially when it comes to race in America. The killing of George […]
Posted inSolutions
Shop Talk: Panel addresses how to continue uncomfortable conversations
MANSFIELD — When a friend of Micah Derry recently made a racist comment, the Mansfield man was taken aback. “It broke my heart when the words came out of his mouth because I think more highly of him than this,” Derry said. He paused, contemplating how to respond to the uncomfortable situation. It’d have been […]
Posted inSolutions
Shop Talk examines race and revisionist history
MANSFIELD — Crystal Davis Weese still remembers how her father pulled her out of her seventh grade history class. Weese’s father was a historian himself, and books about Black history covered the shelves of their home. So when she noticed some inconsistencies between what her father had taught her and what she was learning in […]
Posted inSolutions
Shop Talk participants tackling tough issues
MANSFIELD — Reggie Gamble never spent much time standing on the sidelines as a player and he’s not about to do it now either. Ashland University’s veteran assistant football coach offered a sobering piece of advice during Sunday’s installment of the Shop Talk series at 419 Barbershop. When it comes to race relations, everyone needs […]
Posted inNews
‘Shop Talk’ video series to create conversations of race, empathy
MANSFIELD — Historically, the role of a barbershop has never been just about cutting hair – it’s about creating a sense of community. Barbershops in the Black community, in particular, have served as a cultural staple dating back to the 19th century. It was one of the first industries that allowed Black men to become entrepreneurs […]