“If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny” (IAF) uses themes from The Handmaid’s Tale, the fictional story that explores the real potential of the U.S. as a failed state, to consider the chance of these events occurring in our modern society. We offer discussion of “The Handmaid’s Tale” ( Hulu series) through the lens and perspectives of the Black experience – considering the events, characters, and the capacity of the U.S. to fail – and what this could mean for Black people. IAF explores the potential of what a failed state and fascism might mean for Black people.
When written, nothing included in the story had NOT already happened in human history. The best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats people, other than white men, as property of the state. It takes place following some environmental disasters that cause a plummeting birth rate. The new regime forces the U.S. system of democracy into failure, and plunges it into chaos and civil war. The areas where the “Gilead Republic governs,” in previous American regions, establishes strict caste and penal systems.
The If America Fails? series will feature a weekly panel of subject matter experts in the themes presented by the book and Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale, and will be followed by audience discussion and open chat. Some of the themes are fascism, religion and civil war – and of course, the status of women in a highly controlled, authoritarian theocracy. If you’re a fan of the book or TV series, or an expert in the subject areas, let us know of your interest in joining the live public chat.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Contact:
L. Michelle Odom, Senior Producer or TWN@truthworksnetwork.com or @TWNtalk.
Follow The “If America Fails?” Blog
Subscribe to the TruthWorks Network YouTube Channel
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL PREVIEW – Thursday, October 14, 2021, 8:00 pm ET in the Zoom chatroom; or WATCH the LIVE CHAT on the TruthWorks Network YouTube Channel or Black Women in the Prism Facebook page.
OUR GOALS
Goal 1: Increase knowledge & awareness of trends in global fascism, among United States citizens, including what it looks like, root causes, warning signs, threats, and prevention and eradication strategies, from a Black perspective.
Goal 2: Promote a national dialogue regarding the potential of America as a failed state, among United States citizens.
THEMES: The discussion series explores themes of the Book, TV-Series and Current Political Events in the US
Totalitarianism ::: Authoritarianism ::: Fascism
Human Rights ::: Civil Rights ::: White Supremacy
::: Tyranny :::
Cults ::: Cultures::: Religions
Criminal Justice ::: War ::: Torture
Comparative Conceptual Themes
- Feminism / Black Feminism
- Gender
- Status of Women and Children
- Status of Racial Groups
- Class Status Men / Women
- Race
- Class
- Feminism and Black Feminism
- Incarceration and Work Camps
- Sexuality and Sexual Identity
- Class—Political, Social and Economic Levels
- Environment—Global Warming
- Fear and Denial
- War—Civil War / Revolution / Underground / Terrorism
