Dialogue about race, racism, and the Confederacy is uncomfortable, but meaningful; it can foster true understanding and healing. This book addresses the race and reconciliation efforts of Texas Christian University through the Race & Reconciliation Initiative (RRI): a five-year academically based, historically focused initiative designed to investigate and document TCU's relationship with slavery, racism, and the Confederacy. This academic endeavor draws upon the talents and experiences of faculty, staff, students, and alumni to research and raise awareness of racism and inequality at TCU, helping us work toward a campus culture where everyone is respected and valued. Part one provides a new narrative of TCU’s first 150 years with special attention to race and racism. Part two includes essays from faculty, students, and community members who explore a variety of topics related to the race and reconciliation work at TCU. The book not only serves as a catalyst for future scholarly investigations of these important issues in the understudied areas of TCU’s history, but also equips campus leaders, faculty, and staff with strategies to expand students’ experiences and understanding of TCU’s history. The collection, in sum, offers one institution’s road map to thinking about racial diversity in the history and current practices of higher education. This book is an invitation to explore these difficult landscapes together, to learn from our past, and to imagine a future unburdened by the ashes and fears of old.
