Today I'm interviewing two 2016 Franklin High School graduates who are also graduating from Western Carolina University’s Masters in Public Administration program in a few weeks. Erick Mendez and Matt Wilson came back onto my radar after writing columns on racism for WNC publications, and I’ve included those columns in the show notes. The penetrating incisiveness of their writing, their clarity, their call to action pierced the fog of the op ed page.

We discussed their time in Macon County Schools as it relates to race. We talked about their plans to possibly work in the Triad area in municipal and county government and what has shaped their respective philosophies.

And then we broached the hot topic of the moment, critical race theory — if you want to jump ahead, that’s around the 27 minute marker.

When I spoke to Erick and Matt, I felt good about the future. They are so sharp, reflective, caring, humble, and compassionate. The mountains can be harsh, the mountains can be loving, but in either case wisdom is always imparted if we listen. I hope you enjoy the show.

Erick and Matt's columns on confronting racism

https://www.nber.org/digest/sep03/employers-replies-racial-names

https://www.epi.org/publication/the-color-of-law-a-forgotten-history-of-how-our-government-segregated-america/

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/how-red-lines-built-white-wealth-color-of-law-lesson

Mapping Inequality Redlining in New Deal America