You Didn't Hear a Word I Said: The Critical Role of Conversations Across Difference in a Democratic Society Public Talk with Dr. Ronald Crutcher

Latest: Read this recent article on the UMass news page, AUTHOR AND ESTEEMED CELLIST RONALD CRUTCHER TO DISCUSS RACE AND LEADERSHIP.

Dr. Ronald Crutcher will explore important questions that affect seemingly all sectors of modern society, including business, education, and the arts. Crutcher says, “In an increasingly polarized world, it has become almost impossible to have authentic conversations across different perspectives from race and gender to politics and ideology. The vigorous debate of competing ideas has been an essential component of well-functioning democratic societies for centuries. And yet, in today's climate, the various factions not only congregate in like-minded ‘bubbles,’ but they also are reluctant to interact with or, in some cases, even vilify those in the opposing ‘bubbles.’  What are the forces that led us here? What are the implications for sustaining democratic societies?  How does one lead in such polarized times?  What is the role of higher education institutions in preparing students to participate in and uphold the tenets of democracy despite the polarization?”

About I Had No Idea You Were Black: Ronald Crutcher’s life as a Black leader successfully bridging America’s cultural divides offers a compelling story with important lessons. Born to two parents who never graduated high school, Crutcher grew up to become a leader at the highest levels of academia and the arts. As a child musician, he met with Coretta Scott King. As an adult educator, he sat at Maya Angelou’s holiday table.

But it is Crutcher’s success as a Black intellectual navigating highly charged social issues that makes his story both unforgettable and urgently important. Whether navigating cancel culture at the University of Richmond, where he serves as President in the heart of the former Confederacy, or teaching Northeast liberals the true meaning of functional diversity, Crutcher offers lessons on life and leadership that none of us can afford to ignore.