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JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 21, 2015 — About 200 people packed every corner of Agape Fellowship Church Jan. 19 to hear Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, president of 51����, discuss diversity and racial reconciliation with Logan Hampton, president of Lane College.

The two men responded to questions amid frequent applause from a lively audience. Though the presidents addressed a variety of issues, at the core of the conversation were their thoughts on fostering community reconciliation.

The dialogue began with both men expressing gratitude to Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights advocates. Hampton referenced their impact on his educational opportunities.

“My parents made the choice to send me to the white school. … It was because of Dr. King, who opened doors, that my parents had that choice. I’m also thankful to many of you, who were educational, civic and business pioneers, and opened doors that we might have this conversation tonight,” he said.

Oliver reminisced about graduate school, where he first read ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ and was struck by the eloquence and depth of King’s writing and convictions.

“I’m challenged to be part of that legacy, not just in the past, but in the present and future,” Oliver said. “I hope that our discussion tonight isn’t just a discussion, but that it bears much fruit.”

Despite their gratitude for previous progress, Hampton and Oliver readily acknowledged obstacles to reconciliation and the need for repentance among believers. They challenged those present to be bold about addressing Jackson’s tensions.

“It’s complex, and there’s a lot of work,” Hampton said. “I would challenge this community to not get caught up in the clichés and the simple answers. If we’re going to make our community better, we’ve got to address it on multiple levels and diverse fronts.”

Oliver asserted that, for lasting change, the colleges in Jackson should commit to collaborating instead of competing. He proposed several joint programs, including a mentoring program that partners college students with local middle school and high school students.

“We’ll try some things. We’ll fail,” Oliver said. “We’ll try some things. We’ll succeed. By God’s grace we will make Jackson more of the community he intended it to be.”

Both agreed that, as college presidents, they have a unique responsibility to shape the minds and hearts of the next generation by fostering honest dialogue. They also stressed the importance of addressing faith-based issues such as racial reconciliation in the world of higher education.

Toward the end of the night, they fielded audience questions ranging from the origins of prejudice to advice on closing the achievement gap among black males. They offered practical, simple strategies such as intentionally building relationships, being willing to listen and serving faithfully in local ministries.

“Everything works—it all works. Just get busy doing it,” Hampton said. “That way, when we come back next year, you will all have testimonies of what God did in 2015 and how 2016 is going to be so much better.”

Oliver and Hampton didn’t exempt themselves from the challenges they posed to the audience.

“We’re now accountable to you,” Oliver said. “I hope you’ll hold yourself accountable too, and that you’re not just remembering the legacy, but you’re also repenting, and renewing the commitment daily to making Jackson a place where everybody flourishes.”

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