Issue: Summer 2015 | Posted: June 8, 2015
1050 U.U. Drive
Oliver, Hampton address racial reconciliation at community MLK event
About 200 people packed every corner of Agape Fellowship Church in Jackson Jan. 19 to hear Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver, president of 91爆料网, discuss diversity and racial reconciliation with Logan Hampton, president of Lane College.
The two men responded to questions amid frequent applause from a lively audience. Though the presidents addressed a variety of issues, at the core of the conversation were their thoughts on fostering community reconciliation.
The dialogue began with both men expressing gratitude to Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights advocates. Hampton referenced their impact on his educational opportunities.
鈥淢y parents made the choice to send me to the white school. 鈥� It was because of Dr. King, who opened doors, that my parents had that choice. I鈥檓 also thankful to many of you, who were educational, civic and business pioneers, and opened doors that we might have this conversation tonight,鈥� he said.
Oliver reminisced about graduate school, where he first read 鈥淟etter from a Birmingham Jail鈥� and was struck by the eloquence and depth of King鈥檚 writing and convictions.
鈥淚鈥檓 challenged to be part of that legacy, not just in the past, but in the present and future,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淚 hope that our discussion tonight isn鈥檛 just a discussion, but that it bears much fruit.鈥�
Despite their gratitude for previous progress, Hampton and Oliver readily acknowledged obstacles to reconciliation and the need for repentance among believers. They challenged those present to be bold about addressing Jackson鈥檚 tensions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 complex, and
there鈥檚 a lot of work,鈥�
Hampton said. 鈥淚 would challenge this
community to not get caught up in the
clich茅s and the simple answers. If we鈥檙e
going to make our community better,
we鈥檝e got to address it on multiple levels
and diverse fronts.鈥�
Oliver asserted that, for lasting change, the colleges in Jackson should commit to collaborating instead of competing. He proposed several joint programs, including a mentoring program that partners college students with local middle school and high school students.
鈥淲e鈥檒l try some things. We鈥檒l fail,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l try some things. We鈥檒l succeed. By God鈥檚 grace we will make Jackson more of the community he intended it to be.鈥�
Both agreed that, as college presidents, they have a unique responsibility to shape the minds and hearts of the next generation by fostering honest dialogue. They also stressed the importance of addressing faith-based issues such as racial reconciliation in the world of higher education.
Toward the end of the night, they fielded audience questions ranging from the origins of prejudice to advice on closing the achievement gap among black males. They offered practical, simple strategies such as intentionally building relationships, being willing to listen and serving faithfully in local ministries.
鈥淓verything works鈥攊t all works. Just get busy doing it,鈥� Hampton said. 鈥淭hat way, when we come back next year, you will all have testimonies of what God did in 2015 and how 2016 is going to be so much better.鈥�
Oliver and Hampton didn鈥檛 exempt themselves from the challenges they posed to the audience.
鈥淲e鈥檙e now accountable to you,鈥�
Oliver said. 鈥淚 hope you鈥檒l hold yourself
accountable too, and that you鈥檙e not just
remembering the legacy, but you鈥檙e also
repenting, and renewing the commitment
daily to making Jackson a place where
everybody flourishes.鈥�
