Legs That Breathe Snake Venom: On Silence and Speech
I recently found myself on a nighttime walk through Washington D.C., discussing the power and limits of language with a science-minded friend. …
The Pius Pillars
Nurtured in the fires of the injustice of Apartheid, Pius Langa was to become the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of …
Hope Rides a Bicycle: Adrien Niyonshuti and Uncle Rob
While American professional cycling was losing its soul in the lure of money and performance enhancing drugs, Rwandan cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti kept …
Waking from a Dream of Separateness: A View from West Virginia
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality …
Mandela: “It is Music and Dancing that Makes Me at Peace with the World”
In this tribute to the spirit of a nation rising courageously, if still painfully, from its knees, South African rocker Johnny …
American Skin: Hoping Against Hope
The words JUST-US scrawled across my computer screen and I immediately knew something was terribly wrong. The Facebook post had 20 likes …
A Requiem for Empathy?
I don’t think we’ll see a great many people celebrating in the streets over the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman. …
“Like Jacob Wrestling with God”
Since Hope Sings was published, I’ve been privileged to correspond with Mr. Randy Gamble, a veteran of civil rights work and racial …
“A Girl with a Book”: Happy Birthday Malala Yousafzai
Today is the 16th birthday of Malala Yousafzai. Another glimpse of the anawim, the still small voice of Sophia, breaking through in …
Whistle Blowers Blowin’ in the Wind
How many roads must a man walk down / Before you call him a man? Yes how many times must the cannon …
