“We are all one—and if we don’t know it, we will learn it the hard way.” — Bayard Rustin
On February 28th, 2025, 35 attendees gathered in a lecture hall, snacked on popcorn, and watched Black Boys—a powerful documentary exploring the lives of Black boys and men and the societal systems that shape their experiences. After the film, we shifted into a community conversation, skillfully facilitated by the incredible Faraji Bhakti (Blakeney), grounded in one big question:
What are the lived experiences of Black boys and men in America, and how do we even begin to have an honest conversation about the duality they experience in our society?
Heavy. Sad. Uplifting. Educating.
There are many words I could use to describe the evening, but these four stand out—and they capture the emotional complexity of what we held together in that space.
Eastside Pathways isn’t new to holding uncomfortable conversations or creating spaces where we can break down systemic racism while also beginning to heal from it. The Wisdom Series was born as a way to “encourage inquiry and action, create community discussion, and help bring people together,” using media as a tool to open hearts and minds. Our previous gatherings have explored themes of race and identity through stories like High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, which invited folks into the deep cultural connections of food and heritage.
The 2025 launch of the Wisdom Series brings the same spirit—with a little more directness.
This year’s theme is: “We’re going to talk about it.”
We’re leaning into conversations that explore the layered intersections of race, identity, and belonging—asking how we can build a space rooted in learning, empathy, and truth-telling.
This is not a space where anyone must be the expert.
You can take that hat off.
In fact, we encourage you to.
Wisdom Series is here to help build your understanding—of yourself, your neighbors, the person sitting next to you. It’s a space to listen, to question, to learn together. I’m reminded of that quote by Bayard Rustin during the Civil Rights Movement: “We are all one—and if we don’t know it, we will learn it the hard way.” That’s what this work is about.
Wisdom Series invites us to walk in someone else’s shoes. To reflect on how we show up for each other. To understand how society chooses to see us—and to commit to doing better. Because right now, people in our community are being pushed out of their homes. Kids are afraid to go to school. Many are still hiding parts of themselves because the world has told them those parts aren’t safe.
So when you see a Wisdom Series event on the calendar, know this:
You are invited.
Not as an expert, but as a learner.
Come ask deeper questions with us.
Come be part of the conversation.
Take what you hear with you—and let it shape how you show up in the world.
– Blog written by Angela Phan, Community & Equity Director