As part of Drake University’s Communicating Across Difference series, we invite you to reflect on what it means to engage in open, honest, and respectful dialogue—especially when we disagree.

Spotlight: Uncensored by Zachary Wood

In Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America, Zachary Wood shares his journey from growing up in Washington, D.C. to leading “Uncomfortable Learning,” a student group at Williams College that welcomed controversial speakers.

When he visited Drake for the 2019 Sussman Leadership Conference, Wood challenged us to:

• Move beyond ideological echo chambers
• Listen with empathy
• Confront our own biases with courage

His message echoes Drake’s values of curiosity, respect, and dialogue grounded in integrity.

Like Wood’s memoir, here’s another piece worth reading: Truth Matters by Cornel West and Robert P. George.

Despite holding very different beliefs, West and George model how authentic friendship and truth-seeking can flourish amid disagreement. Their dialogue reminds us that understanding doesn’t require uniformity of thought.

Why this matters:

Together, these works embody Drake’s Statement of Principles:

“An environment of open inquiry and mutual respect where freedom of expression and civil discourse are central to the pursuit of truth.”

Each of us has a role in creating spaces where dialogue can challenge, enlighten, and unite us.

Take the next step

• Read Uncensored or Truth Matters and reflect on your own experiences engaging across difference.
• Want a free copy? Email me (while supplies last).
• Explore more:
  • TED Talks with Zachary Wood
  • Truth Matters: Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division

Let’s keep building a campus culture where disagreement leads not to division – but to deeper understanding and shared growth.

— Jerry Parker, Vice President & Dean of Students