Nathan Rutstein

As a television network journalist in the 1960s, the author had the opportunity to interview prominent civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Forty years later, he concludes that although ending segregation was a worthy goal, little progress has been made in overcoming deep-seated racism. Racism is an emotional commitment to ignorance that damages the mental health of oppressor and oppressed alike. Rutstein sparked a grassroots movement, the Institute for Healing Racism. In a safe group setting, participants from diverse backgrounds study racism and open communication to discover the oneness of humankind. This article highlights the principles and processes of the Institute for Healing Racism, particularly as it is reflected in the experiences of Blacks in the United States.