Is America Possible?

Vincent Harding

"When it comes to creating a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-religious democratic society, we are still a developing nation. We've only been thinking about this for about half a century. But my deep conviction is that the knowledge - like all knowledge - is available to us, if we seek it...That determination to find a truly democratic society and to create the truly beloved community...they don't come free and easy, they are tough, tough tasks."       Vincent Harding in a conversation with Krista Tippett for On Being

In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, it is important that we don't despair, don't move to Canada, don't check out because it's all too painful, but instead relentlessly resist the forces of bigotry and hatred. We must become better listeners, more creative in speaking, more courageous and persistent in defending the vulnerable members of our beloved community.

Vincent Harding, who died in 2014, was chairperson of the Veterans of Hope Project at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, where he was professor of Religion and Transformation. His published works include Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement, There Is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America, Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero, and the essay "Is America Possible?"

Thanks to Salem Mekuria for sending me this paper.