From The Field I began my career as an educator in 1959. During the past 40 years of my work, the majority of my attention centered on young people and families in an attempt to enhance adolescent sexuality and prevent teen pregnancy. I frequently felt these changes were close enough for me to touch but somehow out of my reach. For many of these teens their lives had already been taken away without death, and they regularly experienced the assaulting, spiritually debilitating effects of institutional racism.
Racism remains the central moral agony of our time.
It is these elements that produce sexual risk taking and the haunting sexual tragedies affecting young people. Fortunately, nearby someone's car has started, and is warming up. Our appeal for help is met when our neighbor's car is brought close, very, very close alongside ours. In time the transfer will occur but patience is necessary. And soon, almost miraculously, the battery that was low has been replenished and our car jumps to life.