The Pay Attention Project – Making Racial Justice Real is a creation of Dr. James Brewer Stewart, James Wallace Professor of History Emeritus from Macalester College.

Dr. Stewart began the project with a small group of Twin City based activists, artists, advocates, and community allies who work for racial justice and social change:

  • We educate about accurate African American history and how our history has contributed to the systemic racism that exists today

  • We acknowledge that injustice for one is injustice for all—ignoring or being ignorant about racism is not a solution for the common good

  • We strive to shape and transform our future into the Beloved Community that Martin Luther King espoused and envisioned—a community where liberty and justice apply to all

  • We believe that the Beloved Community is possible and are committed to making it a reality in the Twin Cities

  • We hope you join us.

NOTE: Dr. Stewart is an accomplished historian of race relations. He has spoken nationally, authored books, appeared in PBS documentaries, and developed a series of antiracist YouTube mini-lectures. Below is his lesson about the Beloved Community:

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.