Media Credit: Jessica Combs AWARD WINNING AUTHOR: Rebecca Walker wrote best-seller Black, White and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self.

On Wednesday March 30, noted author and activist Rebecca Walker visited the Rollins campus for a talk and discussion with students in the Bush Auditorium.

Ms. Walker is the author of the award-winning bestseller Black, White and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self, as well as other works, and the cofounder of the Third Way Foundation, which on Ms. Walker's website calls itself "the only national, activist, philanthropic organization serving women aged 15-30". Ms. Walker's talk focused on the 'divisiveness' she sees in our society and her desire for people to be more open.

While Ms. Walker's talk itself was relatively brief, she only spoke for about 30 minutes; she covered a wide swath of territory with her words. She began by criticizing the "zealots influencing the very core of our government" and continued to say that conservatives control both houses of Congress, the White House, the FCC, radio, print news and TV.

While she did at times sprinkle in critiques of the political left, much of her talk seemed to be inspired by a dislike for the direction of the country and those who Ms. Walker holds responsible for that direction. Ms. Walker warned that "Here is what we are dealing with: chaotic circumstances that we find ourselves in today disguised as forward motion are tinged with the potential for total annihilation"

An overriding theme to Ms. Walker's talk and the subsequent discussion with audience members was Ms. Walker's desire to change the dialogue in this country. She spoke of a time in the past where "Public intellectuals required to listen and not just speak", along with her constant theme of divisiveness that she mentioned throughout the evening. Ms. Walker talked of what happens today will influence what happens tomorrow and she hopes that a new feeling of openness will overtake the current divisive status of our culture. She even when so far as to correct a questioner during the Q&A, pointing out that the very question being asked was a result of divisive thinking.

Ms. Walker provided some insight into what she means when she says she wants more openness; she talked of fulfilling the promise of life, liberty and happiness. She wondered "Why have we failed? Why have we been unable to manifest what we say we want for generation after generation?" and concluded that by striving for openness over divisiveness today we can change things for tomorrow.