Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Alice Walker Quote

‎"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." - Alice Walker

FYI: African-American novelist, poet and activist Alice Walker says she became a radical due to the influence of Howard Zinn who was one of her professors at Spelman College during the 1960's. I knew Zinn at that time because he was the father of a friend of mine and occasionally  lectured at the socialist commune I was living at in 1962-63.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Changing Goals

When I wrote for and helped edit a left-wing newspaper back in the late sixties and early seventies I saw myself as America’s next E.B. Debs or, at the very least, the next Herbert Aptheker. Years later, when I was in graduate school in Flordia State's counselor education program, I was sure I was going to be the next Carl Rogers. A decade later, when I was in seminary, I saw myself as the next Billy Graham, but with strong Walter Rauschenbusch leanings. Now that I’m in the autumn (if not winter) of my years I find that what matters most is that I be remembered fondly by my grandchildren.