The recommendations below represents only a fraction of information available about Black History. If you have any recommendations you would like to share, please let us know at blackcaucus@democratsabroard.org. All documentaries, films and book are available for many sources. Where links are provided, they are only suggested sources. Please use the sources you are most comfortable with. 

Documentary Films

Feature Films

Books for Adults

Books for Children

Articles to Discuss

As we enter into November, many of you may be thinking back to last year and the 2016 elections. It may be hard to believe that it has already almost been one year of Trump and the Republican-led Congress, but we hope that this one-year anniversary of the election helps to remind you of why it will be so important to vote in 2018 during the midterms and in any of the elections this year.

There are elections on November 7, 2017 in Virginia, Utah, New Jersey, Georgia, Washington, Michigan, Maine, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The Oklahoma State Legislature is also having a Special Elections on November 14, 2017. Alabama is holding a Special Election for Jeff Sessions U.S. Senate seat on December 12, 2017. Click on any of the states to get more information on the election.

To register to vote and/or request your overseas absentee ballot for any of these elections, go to VoteFromAbroad.org and complete the form to request an absentee ballot. Print, sign and send the form to your election office to receive a ballot for the election. Many states accept scanned forms by email or fax.

Many of our chapters will be start off November by hosting events marking the one-year anniversary, but don’t worry, this month will end with several of our chapters also hosting fun Thanksgiving get-togethers. Getting together with like-minded people will help bolster your spirits in these times.

We hope that you will be able to find an event going on near you that you will be able to join. Be sure to check out the Noteworthy News and Information section. Keep #Resisting and we’ll get through this together.

Featured Events

Attend the Emily's List Webinar! - November 02 · 8:00pm - Emily's List President Stephanie Schirock speaks with the Global Women's Caucus. Since it was founded in 1985, Emily's List has trained and supported thousands of Democratic, pro-choice women to run for office. Now they have started "Run to Win," a national recruitment and training program providing in-person training, webinars and other resources to increase women's participation across all levels of government. Join us and hear about the tremendous difference Emily's List continues to make.

Obama Portrait Exhibition in Berlin - Opens November 04, 2017 - The exhibition “Obama: An Intimate Portrait” will feature 65 photos by official Obama White House photographer Pete Souza. It is the first exhibition about the Obama Presidency in Germany. The exhibition will be on display at the Museum The Kennedys until March 4, 2018.

Thanksgiving Dinners

• Thanksgiving Feast with all the trimmings in Wiesbaden - Thursday, November 23 · 6:00pm - RSVP via the DA website or contact Beverly Seebach
• NRW Thanksgiving Potluck in Schladern - Saturday, November 25 · 12:00 pm RSVP/E-Mail John Grosser
• Thanksgiving Potluck in Heidelberg - Sunday, November 26 · 12:00pm - The turkey will be provided and attendees are asked to bring a side dish. RSVP via the DA website or contact Nancy Schimkat
• Göttingen Annual Thanksgiving Celebration - Sunday, November 26 · 5:00 pm - Turkey, vegan "faux turkey" with all the trimmings.RSVP via the DA website or contact Anne Marie Bessette

*For more holiday events, please click here.*

Events

Precinct Elections And One Year Since The Election Reflection in Bielefeld - Monday, November 06 · 7:00 pm

November Workshop: Talking Politics with Conservative Relatives in Berlin - Tuesday, November 07 · 7:30 pm -What does science tell us about how to talk politics with people we disagree with? Joanna Mikulski, an expert in behavior change communications, will give a fun and interactive workshop designed to help you put the best ideas from research to use when communicating about hot or sensitive topics.

November 9th: 1 year later… in Hamburg - Thursday, November 09 · 12:00 pm - One year after waking up to the shock that remains an unavoidable part of our lives, we want to come together and remember what we are fighting for, and what is at stake.

One Year Later: The Future Of The Party in Münster - Monday, November 13 · 6:30 pm

U.S. Climate Policy after COP23 in Bonn - Monday, November 20 · 7:00 pm - With the UN Climate Conference (COP23) being held in Bonn, join DA in the days following the conference for a panel discussion on the event and its meaning for the future of U.S. climate policy.

Chapter and Precinct Meetings

Drinks With Democrats In Bamberg Thursday, November 02 · 6:00 pm

November Chapter Meeting In Stuttgart Friday, November 03 · 7:00 pm

Heidelberg Chapter Monthly Meeting Friday, November 03 · 7:00 pm

Munich Chapter Monthly Meeting Sunday, November 08 · 7:00 pm

Wiesbaden/Mainz Chapter Monthly Meeting Thursday, November 09 · 7:00 pm

Freiburg/Konstanz Precinct Meeting Saturday, November 11· 12:00 pm

Noteworthy News and Information

Join our new Global Black Caucus (GBC)! Membership in the GBC is open to anyone who supports the goals of human rights and equality for everyone.

Democrats Abroad is asking you to GIVE to WIN, and be a part of political change. Every dollar we raise helps move the dial in the US Congress and Senate from red back to blue. In 2018, it's really important that we expand the overseas voter base. We all know what is at stake for our families and friends, our country and the world, if things remain as they are for next 6 years. All the money you donate goes to keeping our online tools functioning, advertising to find more American's abroad and promoting the issues you care about to our representatives. A donation today, large or small, will make a big difference in 2018. Please Give to Win.

Now Available: The 2018 Global Women's Caucus Calendar celebrating women’s firsts These high-quality calendars, celebrating women's firsts, make wonderful Christmas gifts. Calendars should begin shipping during the first two weeks of November. Order Today!

2018 Germany Annual General Meeting in Hamburg - Friday, February 23 - Sunday, February 25 2018- Join us in Hamburg next year to learn more about how you can be an active part of getting out the vote, meet other democrats living in Germany and give your input on the DAG political process. Keep your eyes out for more information in the coming weeks.

Check out our RESISTANCE merchandise. We have t-shirts, buttons and tote bags with new and classic DA designs. All proceeds will go to help support our efforts for Get Out The Vote in 2018. Order today.

Save the date 21 January 2018. We will celebrate the one year anniversary of the Women’s March. There will be lots of anniversary events around Germany and around the world.

Follow Democrats Abroad Germany on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Please mark your calendars for the next Kaiserslautern Chapter meeting on Monday, October 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the Spinnrädl in Kaiserslautern. Our special guest will be Will Bakker, Democrats Abroad global executive committee member, EMEA Regional Vice Chair, Luxembourg Chair and acting-chair for the Voting Rights group.

Mr. Bakker will lead a discussion on the following topics:

• DA's overall strategy and goals for winning in 2018.At the global level, the grave need to turn out the vote and win in 2018 means going beyond our usual reach in midterms: phone banking to US-based voters + identifying thousands of Americans living in Germany who are not members and motivating them to vote using a broad range of tools.

• Republican dismantling of voting infrastructure for overseas voters in their proposed budgets.

• Kris Kobach's "Commission" for voter suppression and what that tells us about how Republicans want to suppress the overseas vote.
• Positives on voting at the state level: fixing the disenfranchisement of "never resided" citizens by DA lobbying at the state level.

WHEN: October 30, 2017, 5:30pm - 8:30pm

WHERE: Spinnrädl Restaurant
Schillerstraße 1, Kaiserslautern 67655, Germany

It should be a lively and informative discussion. If need more information please contact the Chapter Chair, Terese Sarno.

Please RSVP for this event.

We hope to see you there.

With 59 people dead and over 500 people injured in the recent shooting in Las Vegas, we can no longer sit back and allow our country to be used as a shooting gallery for people with problems.

This continued gun violence is unacceptable and we need to make the lives of our representatives uncomfortable. Today we begin a campaign to End Gun Violence. Please email, tweet, Facebook post or call your governors, state and federal representatives with one or more of these simple messages. Click the links to download shareable graphics aka memes.

Stricter gun laws now!

We need tougher background checks!

Reinstate the Federal Assault Weapons Ban!

Make America Safe Again!

Stop the killing!

Doing Nothing About Gun Violence Is No Longer Acceptable!

Overturn Stand Your Ground laws!

Close the gun show loophole!

Overturn open carry laws!

End the slaughter!

Use this link to find government representatives from city mayors to senators and their contact and social media information: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

If you would like to call, click here for a sample call script:

If you would like to email, click here for sample email script:

A Tweet Storm Is Planned Starting Friday Through Sunday. Everyone possible should participate. If you don't have a twitter account you can quickly make one at Twitter.com. It only takes a couple of minutes. Be sure to add a picture to your profile, it gives you more credibility. When you Tweet your Senator and Governor, use the hashtag #GunControlNow

You can use the free site Tweetdeck to set up scheduled and automated tweets. Let your representatives know how you feel several times a day. Go to https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/ and add in your twitter account. Click on new Tweet, type what you want to say and schedule it. You can schedule multiple tweets for various dates and times.

Click here for a list of Senators Twitter accounts.

Click here is a list of Governors Twitter accounts

Find out if your congress members have taken money from the NRA and call them out for it. Luckily most Democrats have not received donations from the NRA.

This is a problem we can all help solve. Your participation is essential.

#GOTV reminder for Virginia:

Calling all Virginia Voters: NOW is the time to vote and request your ballot to elect Ralph Northam as Governor and flip the VA House to the Dems! ��

Haven't registered? Already registered but haven't requested your ballot? Visit votefromabroad.org and follow the prompts to complete, print, sign, and return your forms by EMAIL, MAIL or FAX. Just be sure to send in the Addendum page if you’ve provided additional information to qualify for a State ballot.

We all need to stand against the AHCA. The most effective tool we have to do this is to contacting our Senators even if they are Democrats. Our representatives need to hear from us so they understand that most Americans do not support the AHCA.

The first and most important step is finding your representatives, to go the online Senate directory you can click on here. You can choose your state in the drop-down menu, and the contact information, including the Washington D.C. phone number and website, for your two senators appear.

Members of Congress have offices in DC, but they also have offices in their home district that they represent. It might be easier to get through to their district offices. A list of their home office phone numbers can be found here.

Another option is using Resistbot. Text “RESIST” to 50409 or message it on Facebook it will find out who represents you in Congress and deliver your message to them in under 2 minutes. Using Resistbot is free and there's no need to download an app or sign up for anything. You literally just send the text or Facebook message and follow the directions from there. Click here to use Resistbot.

What happens when you call?

A legislative assistant will answer the phone. They'll ask if you need a response. It might be better if you say you don't, that way they can tally you down without having to go through the extra step of adding you to a response database but that is completely your choice.

The most important part is to be clear about what issue you're calling about: You want them to vote against the AHCA bill. Getting straight to the point makes things easier for everyone — including those who are waiting for their phone calls to be picked up.

Here is a sample of a script you could use:

"Hello, my name is Nancy Smith. I'm a constituent from New York, zip code 10001. I don't need a response. I am opposed to the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and I strongly encourage the Senator to please oppose any type of repeal. Thank you for your hard work!"

You can say more if you want to but the most important part is to ask your Senator to vote against the AHCA. The Senate returns from its current recess on Monday, July 10th. Please contact your Senator before July 10th.

On July 4th, Americans across the world celebrate Independence Day, an occasion which commemorates the Declaration of Independence, on July 4th, 1776. Democrats Abroad Germany is celebrating the 4th of July around the country. Come meet other American Expats, have fun, get to know like-minded people and celebrate American Independence with us.

We're having 4th of July events of all types, from BBQ's to parties at restaurants, in seven locations. We hope you join us!

Berlin: 4th of July Party – Democrats Abroad Berlin Resistance Summer

When:           July 04, 2017 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Where:       Begegnungsstätte Falckensteinstraße, Falckensteinstraße 6, Berlin 10997

For more information or to RSVP click here.

Cologne/Bonn:  Fourth of July Get-Together Cologne

When:              July 04, 2017 at 7:30pm - 10pm

Where:           Deutzer Brauhaus (Inside the Station), Ottoplatz 7, Cologne, NRW 50769

 For more information or to RSVP click here.

Hamburg: 4th of July Party!

When:             July 04, 2017 at 6:30pm - 10:30pm

Where:           The Bird, Trommelstraße 4, Hamburg, Deutschland 20359

 For more information or to RSVP click here.

Munich:  July 4 Pot Luck at the Biergarten for Resistance Summer

When:              July 04, 2017 at 6pm - 9pm

Where:          Michaeligarten, Biergarten, Feichtstraße 10, Munich 81735

For more information or to RSVP click here.

Göttingen:  Annual July 4th Celebration Göttingen, Germany

When:              July 08, 2017 at 3pm - 6pm

Where:           Göttinger Allstars Ball Field, West end of Kiesseestraße, Göttingen 37083

 For more information or to RSVP click here. 

Heidelberg: Independence Day BBQ

When:              July 09, 2017 at 12pm - 3pm

Where:           Eppelheim Grillhütte, Am Sportplatz in Eppelheim, Eppelheim 69214

 For more information or to RSVP click here. 

Münster/Osnabrück: 2nd Annual Münster/Osnabrück 4th of July Picnic

When:              July 09, 2017 at 1pm - 5pm

Where:         Private Home (Please RSVP to receive the address), North Rhine-Westphalia, Emsdetten 48282

 For more information or to RSVP click here.

We know you don't want to miss out on Resistance Summer—and this is your last chance to apply. The application deadline is just 48 hours from now!

All you have to do to apply to become a Resistance Summer Mobilizer is fill out a three-part application by this Wednesday. Don't wait until the last minute!

Apply now to participate in Resistance Summer—or forward this email to someone you know who'd be great for this program! 

We were all shaken to our very core by last week's political crises, not to mention the previous four months of attacks on vulnerable communities. If you're the kind of person who yearns to take effective action to help reclaim our country, Resistance Summer is for you.

As part of Resistance Summer, 1,000 lucky MoveOn members like you will get expert, individualized coaching from nationally renowned organizers and a small stipend of $150 per month to cover expenses. And most important of all, you'll have the support and resources to organize your own communities to effectively fight back against Trump and the Republican Congress.

Don't wait until Wednesday to apply. Click here to submit your application now to be considered for taking part in Resistance Summer!

Want to learn more about the program?

Resistance Summer is a 12-week volunteer program for emerging community leaders and activists who want to gain or deepen their organizing skills and be part of an ongoing national network of organizers standing up to Trump's agenda. We believe that in order to protect our communities and win back power, we must organize. It's resistance with resilience.

There are three key parts of the Resistance Summer program: trainings, actions, and cohorts.

Trainings

You'll participate in weekly virtual trainings (webinar-style, Facebook Live, videos, or readings) that last about 60 minutes each. They will be offered on Sunday evenings, but you can complete them at a time that's convenient for you each week. Trainings will be led by expert trainers and cover key organizing principles and skills such as:

• Developing a campaign strategy
• Effective recruitment
• How to get media coverage for your actions and build relationships with reporters
• Organizing vs. mobilizing
• How did we get here? Political education and analysis
• And much more!

Yes, I want to apply for Resistance Summer and receive expert training on organizing!

Actions

The best learning comes from action, so we'll put our trainings into practice with national days of action in June, July, and August. By taking action together all across the country, our impact is amplified.

In June, we'll kick off the summer by gathering in fellowship for community cookouts. Getting neighbors and friends together builds relationships and community ties that make our readiness for action stronger and keep us invested for the long haul. They're also an opportunity to lay out the opportunities for action in July and August and get folks excited to join you in action.

In July, we'll demonstrate that the resistance is building the power to win elections. We'll come together for a voter contact day of action, where we'll gain experience talking to voters in our communities about the issues that are important to them. We'll gain valuable skills of having the conversations that make a difference in elections, and we'll gather valuable information about the mood of voters where we live.

In August, when members of Congress are home for their month-long summer break, we'll hold them accountable for their actions and make our demands clear at town hall meetings and other events.

Yes, I want to apply to lead the Resistance in my community this summer!

Cohorts

You will be organized into cohorts, or groups, of 25 MoveOn Mobilizers, grouped by strategic focus (e.g., do you live in a congressional district with a Republican representative who is vulnerable in the next election? Do you live in a big city with a Democratic mayor and want to support pro-active progressive policy?).

Each cohort will be matched with an expert Cohort Facilitator—an experienced organizer and movement leader who will support you through the trainings and actions. Cohort Facilitators are people such as veteran organizer and founder of the Midwest Academy Heather Booth, elections veteran Emmy Ruiz, and direct action organizer Yong Jung Cho.

Yes, I want to join Resistance Summer and work with a cohort of my peers across the country and an expert Cohort Facilitator! 

Calendar

Here are some key dates to mark on your calendar for Resistance Summer:

Wednesday, May 24: Applications Due
Friday, June 2 through Friday, June 9: Program Participants Announced
Monday, June 19: Virtual Training Kickoff
Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25: June Action—Resistance Summer Community Cookouts
Weekends in July: July Action—Voter Contact Day of Action!
August 1-28: August Action—Congressional Summer Recess
August 29-September 1: Debrief
Wednesday, September 6: Graduation

Yes, I want to apply for Resistance Summer by the Wednesday, May 24 deadline.

What happens after Resistance Summer?

Why, the resistance continues! And you will have more tools in your toolbox and more inspiration for the long haul. Upon successful completion of the Resistance Summer program, you will have the opportunity to join a national network of local volunteer organizers ready to organize locally for nationally impactful campaigns, including responding to rapid-response crisis moments and preparing for elections.

Expectations

We believe that good organizers set clear expectations and follow through on commitments. We have worked hard to make this learning and action opportunity available to the widest range of people of different backgrounds. If you can commit an average of 5 hours per week during the summer, can access a smartphone or computer with an internet connection, and want to organize events in your community that will make a difference, Resistance Summer could be for you!

Here are the expectations for Resistance Summer program participants: 

• I am available throughout most of the summer (gone for no more than 3 weeks total, with no more than 2 weeks at a time).
• I understand the expectation that as part of Resistance Summer I will complete a weekly training module, a weekly organizing assignment, and a weekly report, and that I will participate in a monthly action to apply the trainings to practice (June community cookouts, July voter contact events, August town hall or other congressional recess action).
• I can commit an average of 5 hours per week from June 19 to Sept. 6 (12 weeks).
• I understand that this is a volunteer role. I understand that I can choose to receive a $150 monthly stipend (once per month for 3 months) contingent upon completing the requirements of the program.
• I have or can get regular access to a smartphone or computer with internet access and enough data for about 60 minutes of video each week to complete the weekly assignments.
• I agree with this Resistance Summer vision statement: I believe that we can build a country with room for all of us, with an economy that works for all of us, that welcomes refugees and immigrants, that takes action to address climate change, that makes it easier, not harder, to vote, that values Black lives, that stands against sexism, racism, Islamophobia. I share a commitment to nonviolent action to achieve this vision.

Yes, I want to help lead the Resistance this summer.