"Many of the issues we deal with today come from the legacy of enslavement. I think we have to understand our history, what has happened in the past, in order to understand what’s happening today. The history of blacks, whites, Indians, and Spanish people in our country is intertwined. We are more connected than we think, and we have to deal with the good and the bad of that history. We have to face the root causes of the issues, not just the issues themselves.
"When I think about what happened in Charleston, South Carolina and the situation around the Confederate flag, it is saying to me that we have to grapple with what that is telling us as a nation. The divide still exists and separation is still here, which is what the 1968 Kerner Commission stated. How people see each other is still largely based on race, and we have to deal with those wounds.
"We've made some progress, but that doesn’t mean real transformation has happened yet. To become the Beloved Community that Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned in his 'I Have A Dream' speech, we have to connect with each other across boundaries and do it with love. We have to come together on equal footing that respects and honor the dignity of our humanity. The choices we make now and the way we deal with these issues affect not only us but future generations."
"When I think about what happened in Charleston, South Carolina and the situation around the Confederate flag, it is saying to me that we have to grapple with what that is telling us as a nation. The divide still exists and separation is still here, which is what the 1968 Kerner Commission stated. How people see each other is still largely based on race, and we have to deal with those wounds.
"We've made some progress, but that doesn’t mean real transformation has happened yet. To become the Beloved Community that Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned in his 'I Have A Dream' speech, we have to connect with each other across boundaries and do it with love. We have to come together on equal footing that respects and honor the dignity of our humanity. The choices we make now and the way we deal with these issues affect not only us but future generations."
"I’m a native of Oakland, California, but I've lived in Memphis since retiring from naval service. Memphis has given me an opportunity to connect with some wonderful people who have taught me non-violence in the spirit of Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. This practice, along with anti-racism training I've received, has made me aware of the importance of examining and analyzing history in this country. I’m grateful for these insights and for the opportunity to learn new things.
"I will leave you with a message of hope, because that is what sustains me on my journey on earth. I participate in an organization called 'Coming to the Table', in which descendants of slaveowners, slavetraders, and slaves come together to grapple with the legacy of enslavement in a real way. It's all about living out Dr. King's dream. My quest is to strive toward freedom for all of us, because we are connected in this global village."
"I will leave you with a message of hope, because that is what sustains me on my journey on earth. I participate in an organization called 'Coming to the Table', in which descendants of slaveowners, slavetraders, and slaves come together to grapple with the legacy of enslavement in a real way. It's all about living out Dr. King's dream. My quest is to strive toward freedom for all of us, because we are connected in this global village."
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