Exploring “America’s Truth: Cincinnati” Documentary with DEIB

By: Cindy Liang

The watch night event organized by JLC’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee in February, featuring the documentary “America’s Truth: Cincinnati,” aimed to provide a platform for members to gather, watch the documentary, and engage in discussions about racial disparities and systemic issues affecting their communities. This initiative aligns with JLC’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by fostering understanding and creating a safe space for exploring important topics.

“America’s Truth: Cincinnati” is the first documentary produced by the Center of Community Resilience, highlighting how structural racism in policies, practices, and programs creates and sustains racial trauma and inequity by race and place. The film sheds light on the racial history and systemic inequities that have influenced Cincinnati’s culture, politics, and race relations.

The documentary begins by exploring Glendale, a historic village where black settlers established themselves and had underground tunnels and a train that aided slaves in their quest for freedom. It emphasizes the challenges faced in preserving the historical site and recognizing the full story of America’s history, particularly the lack of representation of African American history in national sites. The statistic that only 2% of the 95,000 sites on the National Register focuses on African Americans underscores the need to confront the truth of systemic racism and acknowledge the courageous efforts made to seek justice.

The film also addresses structural racism, which relies on a system of racial hierarchies centered around whiteness, resulting in a significant racial wealth gap. In Cincinnati, white families possess ten times the wealth of black families, leading to 55% of black families in Hamilton County living in poverty. Additionally, black families face challenges in home ownership, with less than one-third owning homes compared to two-thirds of white families, despite making up 40% of Cincinnati’s population. Housing policies, urban renewal, court systems, policing practices, and the battle for desegregation in public education all contribute to perpetuating a cycle of trauma and racial disparities within the Cincinnati community.

The experiences of black neighborhoods in Cincinnati, such as the rezoning of Lincoln Heights to remove the business district from its tax base, further highlight the historical shaping of the country based on race.

Following the documentary screening, JLC members engaged in discussions led by the DEIB committee. Recognizing and confronting these systemic issues are essential steps toward working for a more equitable society. By understanding the historical context, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and implementing systemic changes, it becomes possible to address and dismantle the structures that perpetuate racial disparities and promote healing and equity within the community.

Access “America’s Truth: Cincinnati” from home

America’s Truth is the first documentary produced by the Center for Community Resilience (CCR) to demonstrate how structural racism in policies, practices, and programs creates and sustains racial trauma and inequity by race and place. You can register to access the film using the QR code below or visiting ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/americas-truth

Download the America’s Truth discussion guide (PDF) to help start a conversation on Truth in your community. To learn more about the Cincinnati Truth & Equity process, check out the Truth & Equity: Cincinnati case study Both of these resources are also available using the QR code link.