Traces Of The Trade: A Story From The Deep North
Comments about
Traces of the Trade
"I admire the candor with which the DeWolfe descendants confronted the horrific reality of their family's history & legacy. Their documentary, Traces of the Trade, raises the uncomfortable question for all of us: how were our own ancestors, directly or indirectly, engaged in slavery?"
- Rev. Carol Atwood-Lyon, Massachusetts Conference
"This film and Holly and Bill's heartfelt speaking and personal involvement are a MUST SEE for any UCC church during this crucial time in history. I cried during the film, laughed with Bill's humor and listened to Holly's searing story of engaging her family's past. So many folks in the church I serve have stated that now that Obama is president, racism is over. We have found, instead, polarization. Anger. Frustration. I was so inspired by this film's provocative, though loving ideas, that I read the book, "Between Barack and a Hard Place, by Tim Wise. That has opened my eyes to the idea that, in fact, our work to end racism has just begun! As in all social change, we must, in Jesus' name, put our shoulder to the grinding wheel. YOU MUST have them talk to your congregation."
- Pastor Judy Hanlon, Hadwen Park Congregational Church, UCC, Worcester gracelift@aol.com
"Having Holly and Bill with us to talk about "Traces of the Trade" was wonderful! Their experience in such gatherings enabled them to guide our discussion into helpful paths and to keep us focused on the important questions. They also helped us think about next steps. Thanks, Holly and Bill! God bless your work!"
- Pastor John Zachry, Central Congregational Church, UCC, Chelmsford, MA |
In Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, first-time film maker Katrina 
Browne makes a troubling discovery - her New England ancestors, the DeWolfs of Bristol, Rhode Island, were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. She and nine fellow descendants set out to retrace the Triangle Trade: from their old hometown in Rhode Island to slave forts in Ghana and sugar plantation ruins in Cuba. Step by step, they uncover the vast extent of Northern complicity in slavery while also stumbling through the minefield of contemporary race relations. Traces of the Trade offers powerful new perspectives on the black/white divide, privilege, and the uncomfortable topic of reparations.
Traces of the Trade is an excellent tool to begin your congregation’s “Sacred Conversation on Race.” Two MACUCC members, Holly Fulton and Bill Peebles, are available to work with congregations. They are members of Tabernacle UCC in Salem, MA. Holly is a DeWolf and a participant in the film. She and her husband, Bill, are skilled facilitators who provide a safe environment in which people can look at the uncomfortable history and its present day legacy.
Biographies
Holly Fulton has been a diversity trainer and a French & ESL teacher in France, Califo
rnia, Massachusetts and Colorado. She lives in Peabody, MA, with her husband, Bill Peebles, and gives talks and facilitates discussions as outreach for Traces of the Trade. She’s active in music, theatre, and in various discussion groups. She does pet partner work in health care settings and with hospice patients accompanied by her Golden Retriever, Cali. She is on the Board of Directors of Class Action, a non-profit organization that addresses issues of classism. Email Holly at hfulton@tracesofthetrade.org. or holly.fulton@comcast.net
Bill Peebles is r
ecently retired from a 15-year career as a mental health therapistand before thatas aPresbyterian pastor for 12 years. He is volunteering as Development Associate for Community Change, Inc. in Boston which is a 40 year old organization dedicatedtoending racism. Bill also is a Spiritual Director. Email Bill at bpeebles@tracesofthetrade.org or wmpeebs@comcast.net
Bill and Holly are active in the United Church of Christ at Tabernacle Church in Salem and are both members of the MACUCC Race and Justice Task Force. They are available to bring Traces of the Trade to your congregation as a tool in beginning or deepening your “Sacred Conversation on Race.” They are also available to assist UCC members in facilitating conversations on race and racism with organizations they are part of outside church circles.
For more information on Traces of the Trade, including resources and discussion guides and how to purchase a copy of the film, visit http://www.tracesofthetrade.org.
To arrange for Holly and Bill to facilitate a film showing and workshop at your church, contact them directly.
Click here to download the pdf document "5 on 7: Resources to deepen sacred conversations on race and move people toward action for racial justice"