Refresh and Refocus 1619: Continuing the Dialogue

As we have noted in a previous message sent out to our mailing list, scheduling changes in Pasadena Village activities have introduced a need to change our schedule from the third Friday in the month to the second Friday. Meetings will continue on the same link at the same time, just on a different Friday. Please note your calendars. Hope this change will not be too disruptive to our audience.

An Invitation

Pasadena Village invites interested members to help refresh, reshape, and refocus our long‑running “1619: The Lingering Imprint” discussion series so it speaks more directly to today’s political moment.

This is not a research project or a lecture series. It is an ongoing conversation, a space for thoughtful dialogue that connects history to the realities shaping our civic life now.

We are looking for people who want to be part of a relevant discussion happening today and to help guide its next phase.

A Conversation with a Strong Foundation

The contemporary discussion of 1619 gained national attention through The New York Times Magazine supplement published in August 2019, which framed 1619 as a formative event in shaping the United States.

Inspired by that publication, Pasadena Village launched the “1619: The Lingering Imprint” discussion group in August 2019. It has met continuously each month since then, becoming one of the Village’s most thoughtful and enduring programs – a track record worth preserving and building upon.

Over time, speakers and participants have explored how the legacy of enslavement shaped:

-law and governance
-racial hierarchy and social norms
-economic opportunity and inequality
-institutions that continued evolving after emancipation

This work has helped participants see 1619 not as distant history, but as a living imprint shaping opportunity, power, and belonging.

Why This Conversation Matters Now

We now have an opportunity to refresh and sharpen this long‑running conversation by focusing more directly on the current political environment.

Across today’s conflicts, there is often an undercurrent tied to the legacy of 1619 – sometimes visible, sometimes subtle, sometimes buried beneath surface arguments. Yet across issue after issue, the imprint of race, hierarchy, and historical inequality remains present.

In today’s climate, issues once ignored or pushed aside can feel as if they are crawling out from under the rocks. The tensions we see did not suddenly appear; many have deep roots. Understanding the legacy of 1619 helps illuminate the deeper forces shaping public life and the harshness that sometimes emerges within it.

This discussion remains relevant because the imprint of 1619 can be felt across nearly every issue before us today.

Refreshing the Focus

Rather than relying on a single facilitator, we hope to build a small circle of engaged participants interested in helping guide the next phase of this platform.

Participants might:

-propose timely discussion topics
-suggest or invite presenters
-help connect historical context to current developments
-occasionally share their own perspectives

There is no heavy commitment. The emphasis is shared stewardship, fresh perspectives, and collective curiosity.

Possible areas of exploration include:

voting rights and representation
criminal justice and policing
economic inequality and wealth gaps
education and historical memory
immigration, citizenship, and belonging
political language such as “law and order,” “states’ rights,” and “freedom”
The goal is not partisan advocacy but political understanding – connecting history to present‑day realities in ways that support informed, respectful dialogue.

Why Participate?

Many people feel unsettled by today’s political climate but lack spaces to:

-ask hard questions
-connect history to headlines
-speak openly without polarization

This discussion offers:

context instead of sound bites
reflection instead of reaction
dialogue instead of debate
It is especially meaningful for lifelong learners who value thoughtful conversation and community.

Format and Continuity

Frequency: Monthly (ongoing since August 2019)
Length: 60–90 minutes
Format: Facilitated discussion with occasional guest presenters
Preparation: Light readings, short videos, or guiding questions

To support continuity:

-Recordings of past presentations are available on the Pasadena Village YouTube channel
-Video archives currently go back to 2022
-A blog archive documents discussions held during the COVID Zoom period

These resources reflect the depth and seriousness of this long‑standing conversation.

Join the Conversation

If you are interested in helping refresh and refocus this discussion so it speaks more directly to the present moment, we invite you to participate.

This is an opportunity to join a group with a strong history, contribute fresh perspectives, and help sustain a space where history, empathy, and critical thinking meet.

Let’s build on what has been created — and connect the past to the present together.

With our new schedule, the next meeting date with be Friday, March 13th on our usually link at the same time, 12pm PST.

Blogs Topics Posts about this Topic