Jan 26, 2019-- Zachary R. Wood invites controversy into his life. Raised by a schizophrenic mother, he learned that people are complicated and challenging, but they can bring us into a deeper understanding. In this Ted talk, he describes growing up in a difficult home that was also supportive. He attended an elite, predominantly white, private school where as a black student, he felt the sting of being stereotyped and the joy of a education. He joined a group that brought controversial speakers to campus in order to prepare himself for controversy. He was not always successful in overcoming student bias, but he was able to engage in conversations with those who held different opinions and to understand their views. He believes "that to achieve progress in the face of adversity, we need a genuine commitment to gaining a deeper understanding of humanity." (12614 reads)