(Rob Corcoran and Jana Carter Photo: Karen Elliott Greisdorf)

Rob Corcoran, author of Trustbuilding, spoke at the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University on March 9. He joined fellow panelists David Campt, a nationally recognized race relations consultant, and Jana Carter of Search for Common Ground to discuss "Conflict in Our Own Backyard: Prospects for Racial Reconciliation."

Corcoran noted that while America is more comfortable with diversity in general, racial and economic separation has actually increased in many urban areas. The number of nearly all-minority (less than five percent white) schools doubled in the decade 1996-2006. Corcoran reminded the audience of former Senator Bill Bradley's speech in Los Angeles in 1992 when he said that because of changing demographics the future of white children will depend on the talents of nonwhite American children and that we will all advance together or we will all be diminished. 

John Hopkins Forum (Photo: Karen Elliott Greisdorf)

He described the process for racial reconciliation in Richmond VA, particularly the "walk through history", which "allows the conscience of a large number of people to be activated in a positive way; liberates all parties by breaking cycles of guilt, avoidance, or resentment; and enables people of all backgrounds to take ownership of a shared history." He also emphasized the need for honest dialogue that includes everyone, particularly those of conservative viewpoints: "Racial healing is too important to be seen as the property of any one political worldview."