A Conversation in Black & White

This year’s Conversation in Black and White delves into the powerful lived experiences of two individuals who came of age during one of the most pivotal and turbulent periods in American history — the era of school integration and social resistance.

Both are graduates of Pensacola High School and were standout athletes—one a football star, the other a basketball star. After graduation, their journeys took different paths. One chose Tuskegee University, a historically Black university (HBCU); the other went to the University of Alabama, a large public university with a very different historical and cultural context, especially regarding race and athletics.

Their stories are riveting, insightful, and provocative. Through conversation, they reflect on a wide range of topics shaped by their worldviews, personal histories, and the changing social landscape over the decades. It is through proximity and honest dialogue that learning, healing, and growth begin.

Let’s “lean in” to discover how these two men—whose lives intersected and intertwined in the late 1960s —reconnected years later. Theirs is a unique and compelling story of mutual respect, resilience, and reconciliation. Their journey through this historic city offers a glimpse of life through different lenses. Hold on to your seats—you might be surprised by what we learn along the way.

Host or Publisher Equity Project Alliance