Berkley Center

Journalist and Pulitzer Grantee Richard Weiss is an award-winning writer, editor, and writing coach. For the past several years, Weiss has been working on a reporting project titled "Before Ferguson, Beyond Ferguson," which focuses on families of color in the Ferguson area and their struggles over generations for quality education. One series in this project features the Washington family, and it starts with a racially-charged incident at an IHOP involving 18-year-old Teddy Washington, a few of his fellow students, and a suburban police department that made the national news.

In this conversation, Richard Weiss and Teddy Washington were joined by Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery to discuss race relations in the Ferguson area now, five years after the infamous shooting of Michael Brown, Jr. They considered what has (or hasn't) been the role of religion as a source of resilience and driver of a social justice mindset in the Washington family and other families in Weiss’ reporting. They also explored intergenerational racial justice issues and the role of storytelling in moving our society toward equity and equality. The conversation was moderated by Emerald Christopher-Byrd.

A reception followed the discussion. 

This event was part of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and supported by the Doyle Engaging Difference Program.