Alvin Garrett is not interested in partial truths, and in this conversation we cover a broad range of topics, which several times circled back to the issue of real empathy, which Alvin affirmed, cannot be forced through a sense of guilt or in any other way. If you, as a ‘white’ person, have ever felt uneasy about talking to a Black person, for fear of saying the wrong thing, or making the wrong move, Alvin helps to clarify the root cause of that frustration. And he follows that insight with a view from the Black person’s perspective. He explains that we need to stop trying to prove to each other what we are, and what we are not, let our ‘guards’ down, and start connecting from that place of openness. We go on to talk about Braver Angels, a highly effective nonprofit organization to which he and I, independently, have found a home for engaging in the process of bringing Americans together to listen and learn from each other (rather than listening to the media’s inflammatory soundbites) in order to, with mutual respect, bridge the destructive partisan divides for the purpose of strengthening our democratic republic for everyone’s benefit. Alvin’s viewpoint on the reason that George Floyd’s murder triggered a global response brings this conversation to a whole other level… and… if you’ve ever wondered, as I often have, how some Black people, in spite of all the challenges they live with, on a daily basis, just by being Black in America, how they only grow stronger - maintaining their freedom from the toxicity of negativity, you will definitely appreciate Alvin’s answer. The part of our conversation about privilege and white privilege is pure gold… and just to give you a quick heads up: guilt has no value and no place in what he suggests we can do with our white privilege to make a positive difference. And… we concluded with some of our combined thoughts on critical thinking: its importance, its obstacles, its challenges, and its rewards. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/onewhiteteacher/message