America Reckons With Racism: A Conversation With Michael Eric Dyson

Professor, author and preacher Michael Eric Dyson has spent his life’s work grappling with the concept of race in America. And he says he’s more hopeful now than ever before. We talk with him.

Guest

Michael Eric Dyson, sociology professor at Georgetown University. Baptist minister. Author of many books, including “Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America” and “Jay-Z: Made in America.” (@MichaelEDyson)

From The Reading List

Reuters: “Police, protests and politics: Georgetown professor Dyson on racism in America” — “As calls to disband police departments grow nationwide, Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at Georgetown University and author of 21 books including ‘Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America,’ joined the #AskReuters Twitter chat series to talk about police, protests and politics.”

The Guardian: “UN human rights chief calls for reparations to make amends for slavery” — “The UN’s human rights chief has urged countries to confront the legacy of slavery and colonialism and to make amends for ‘centuries of violence and discrimination’ through reparations.”

NBC News: “George Floyd’s legacy illustrates the burden borne by families of slain black Americans” — “If there was one refrain repeated in many forms at the final home-going service for George Floyd in Houston on Tuesday, it was the idea that Floyd’s life was given meaning, global meaning, in the moment of his death.”

Yahoo: “Dr. Michael Eric Dyson Discusses Civil Unrest Across America” — “James Corden welcomes Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, author of ‘Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America’ and several other books, to discuss civil unrest in the United States following the death of George Floyd at the hand of police officers in Minneapolis.”

This article was originally published on WBUR.org. [Copyright 2020 NPR]