I grew up in tumultuous times of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. I remember the riots in Detroit and other cities. I remember the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Our entire school system, where I grew about 60 miles north of Detroit, had 3… that’s it… 3 black students – in the entire school system.

So watching these events on TV, as a young, impressionable teenager, taught me some things that were flat out wrong…racism, discrimination, etc.

It was not until I went in the Army in the mid-70’s that I discovered how wrong my upbringing was. Not only did I realize I was wrong on my perceptions – but some of my co-workers and fellow soldiers and who became my best friends, who were black, discovered they were wrong about ME in their perceptions, too.

Why am I leading off with this? Because perceptions – I should say “misperceptions” – can lead to disastrous policies, disastrous incidents and out of these things – nothing good can ever come. Amen!

Our guest today grew up in that same time frame that I did… but from looking at things, let’s just say, from the other side of the tracks.

Star Parker, grew up as a military brat…my kids can relate to that… but after moving to St. Lous in 1969, right after the MLK assassination, she found herself swept up in the racial tensions that was sweeping the nation. This led her down a path that took her years to recognize was - the wrong path.

With several abortions, living on Food Stamps and Welfare and seeking work that paid, “under the table” (so she could continue on Government subsistence), she found herself pregnant, but wanting to keep this baby.

That one decision led her to make another – where she accepted Jesus as her Lord and that led to another decision… to change her life for the better.

Today, Star Parker is a nationally syndicated columnist and hosts a weekly television news show, CURE America with Star Parker, which is broadcast on the National Religious Broadcasters Network, the TCT Network and others as well as on the streaming services. She has served on the Executive Board of the National Religious Broadcaster Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors at the Leadership Institute. She has spoken on more than 225 college campuses, including Harvard, Berkeley, Emory, Liberty, Franciscan, UCLA, and the University of Virginia.

She is a regular commentator on national television and radio networks including the BBC, EWTN, FOX News and others.

She is the founder and president of CURE, which is the “Center for Urban Renewal and Education.”

CURE has just released a new study, in book form, in cooperation with contributing scholars and luminaries who are experts in their fields of study, titled, “The State of Black Progress – Confronting Government and Judicial Obstacles.”

Having said all of that, help me welcome to the program our very special guest, Star Parker! Star, it is a blessing for you to come on the program and join us today.

The first question I always start with is this… other than that brief information I just shared, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is Star Parker?”

Just to lay the groundwork for the discussion of your book, share with us, from your perception, what life was like for you, your family and friends, back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s with all of the racial tensions that were going on?

Tell us about the...