The Episcopal Church, through its Executive Council’s Anti-Racism Committee, has called for dioceses and congregations to view our PBS documentary, “Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North,” and to participate in facilitated conversations about the film.

The Anti-Racism Committee, chaired by the Rev. John Kitagawa, was responding to Resolution A-143 from the 2009 General Convention, which calls on dioceses to learn about the historic complicity of the Church in slavery and racial discrimination. Resolution A-143, in turn, followed similar resolutions at the 2006 General Convention which were adopted following screenings of a rough cut of Traces of the Trade and pleas from DeWolf family members appearing in the film. Scenes from the debate and adoption of these resolutions appear towards the end of the film.

For information about obtaining the film, arranging for facilitated conversations, or inquiring about our other programs on slavery, race, and privilege, please see the Tracing Center’s programs and screenings page.

Katrina Browne and James DeWolf Perry have an opinion article at CNN.com on the North’s myths about the Civil War, slavery, and race.

Katrina is executive director of the Tracing Center, and James blogs at The Living Consequences.

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North has won an award, for “Best film/video documentary production,” at the 2010 Black International Cinema film festival in Berlin.

Traces of the Trade was directed by Katrina Browne, with co-directors Alla Kovgan and Jude Ray.