By Dr. Jerry Taylor *Adapted from Dr. Taylor’s dedicatory message at the opening of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action With the blazing zeal of the prophet Amos, Dr. Carl Spain’s prophetic words left a major … Continue reading A Tribute to Dr. Carl Spain’s Prophetic Empathy
In our divided world where everyone seems to be self-protecting, drawing up sides, canceling out their dissent, and boosting egos or right-ness, creating sincere, safe spaces for hard conversations is a missing practice in our communities. These kinds of conversations, … Continue reading Brave Leadership: Bridging Divides & Building Peace
“I believe in the sun, though it be dark; I believe in God, though he be silent; I believe in neighborly love, though it be unable to reveal itself.” The quote was an inscription from an underground room where nine … Continue reading What Empathy Takes and Gives
“…I will learn to deeply care. I will allow myself to feel your pain, to come close enough to be trusted to help you carry the unreasonable burdens that have been placed on you…” Continue reading Empathy is Required for Godliness
Recently we had a racially motivated crime in Jacksonville, FL (8/26/2023). A white 21-year-old decided that due to his hatred of African Americans (Blacks), he would attempt to gain access to Edward Waters University, the oldest Historical Black University in … Continue reading Empathy The Power of Understanding
In 1961, journalist John Howard Griffin wrote a book entitled, “Black Like Me: A white man learns what it is like to Live the Life of a Negro by becoming one!” The book documented his experiences in the South after … Continue reading Walk A Mile in My Shoes
According to Wikipedia, In politics, a dog whistle is the alleged use of coded or suggestive language in political messaging to garner support from a particular group without provoking opposition. The concept is named after ultrasonic dog whistles, which are audible to dogs but not humans. … Continue reading Economic Dog Whistles
This is an uncomfortable feeling. I’m typically asked to contribute in writing my thoughts about a number of topics related to anti-racism, health, and wellness. I’ve built my whole career around being able to stand at the window of society … Continue reading Exploitation, Racism, War… and Me
For the majority of “white” Americans, Martin Luther King Junior’s legacy brings images of his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s pleasant to think of a world where we will “…one day live in a nation where they (his … Continue reading Dreams Versus Reality in Black and White
Three-Fifths 