And if you're honest and you're true, you can't help but look at other people and look at situations and say, "But by the grace of God go you — and me." That's what I saw. ... I've met too many men in the last four days, five days, of every age. And no matter how old we are, we all remember and know that that is us, in some shape, form or fashion.
Because when I get pulled over, even with my credentialed and degreed ... self, I revert back to that 18-year-old and the things that my father told me about what to do when the police stop you.
This is a very small portion of a- by radio news standards- lengthy interview with Pastor Willis Johnson in Ferguson on
All Things Considered on NPR on Thursday. I had not seen the photo that prompted the interview until just before writing this. It's at the link. A powerful photo and a powerful interview.
If you can listen to it -DO! He shared himself and deserves a hearing.
I have high praise for Melissa Block and the way she handled this conversation. It allowed me to see and helped me to see things that I can't really know.
And I'm truly grateful for that.