Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, says, “The greatest evil of American slavery was not involuntary servitude, but rather the narrative of racial differences we created to legitimate slavery.” In this political era, racial divisions are showing up in starker terms, some of that due to what happens or does not happen in education around race, class, culture, geographic differences, and economic realities.

For most of the 20th century and into the 21st, educational lessons and materials were and are woefully inadequate in explaining these racial divisions. Federal prison populations have great diversity, representing all kinds of people here and around the world. Instructor Judy Wenzel’s high school students at the federal prison in Milan provided wisdom and valuable lessons for the rest of us. This round table discussion will focus on peoples’ own educational experiences regarding racial issues and on ways education could be improved—and on ways to bridge our divides.

The study group will be held on Wednesday, October 14.
Preregistration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the study group will be e-mailed to you approximately one week prior to the first session.