Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center has joined with Bluff City Theater and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum to kick-off the first ever

Hannibal Community Unity Week-July 25-29Unity-in-the-Community-Logo2-900x443

Amid mounting racial tension nationally and around the world, our mission is to initiate dialogue about inclusion, diversity and tolerance through a series of citywide activities and events.  We dedicate the week to fostering understanding and respect for basic human rights throughout our community. We believe that prejudice starts with a lack of understanding and that we have far more in common than what divides us. The best way to overcome this is to come together and get reengaged. Our mission is to promote peace, hope and understanding in our community AND draw strength from our diversity.

  • Jim’s Journey (509 N. 3rd Street) will offer extended hours, Monday-Friday, 5-7pm.  Come out to explore the African-American experience and contributions to Hannibal through the years at this remarkable museum dedicated to our African-American heritage.
  • Best of Enemies, at Bluff City Theatre is a timely and courageous examination of racial prejudice in the 1970s. Based on the true story of Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis,  Best of Enemies is a raw and sometimes disturbing drama about how two people from opposite ends of the spectrum learn to listen, understand and collaborate for the good of their children, and in the process became lifelong friends.       PERFORMANCES ARE June 28th and 29th at 7:30 p.m. www.eventshannibal.com. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
  • Kids in Motion and members of our local Hannibal Police Department will be attendinging a special matinee performance on Wednesday, July 27th. Others are invited to attend an evening performance on Thursday, the 28th.  Both performances will be followed by the cast of Best of Enemies leading a talkback forum encouraging the audience to join in the discussion about race relations in America and the themes introduced in the play.

Tickets for these performances are just $12.50 for all young people under 25 years of age and $17.50 for adults who reference Jim’s Journey or use the promo code “jims journey”.

  • You are invited to enjoy a free outdoor Unity concert in front the Mark Twain Boyhood Home featuring local artists performing blues, gospel and rock n roll; 7:30 pm on Friday, the 29th.  This performance is courtesy The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum.
  • We welcome the alumni of Douglass School to the Douglass School Reunion, July 29-31.   Survivors of the HPS segregated school system for 88 years, alumni will come from all over the country to enjoy their weekend “back home” in Hannibal.

1st Annual