Douglas E. Parker
— Financial Advisor
“Bill Wynne’s journey of self-discovery is as if he is lifting a boiling caldron in his arms and refusing to let go. The scars will run deep and be painful, but Bill’s willingness to embrace the moral calling of our time, perhaps of the ages, will make him a better man and a better Christian, perhaps more importantly a better witness to truth. This isn’t just a journey for Bill Wynne, it is an imperative for us all.”
J. Toyer
— Contributor, The Road to Independence: 101 Women’s Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firms
“The story of Bill’s courageous and uncommon journey provides illumination and lessons for us all in understanding and overcoming the challenges to ourselves, our families, our communities and beyond in desiring and working for justice for all people regardless of racial classifications, economics or social status.”
Fr. Daniel Riley OFM
— Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Community
“More than possibly, we know individuals like Bill Wynne who have opened their life to wonder about what has been going on that their lives seem to be closed; possibly closed in around race or those other things that originally were inconclusive, but as we have opened our eyes, we realize were excluding others and, in fact, painfully dividing a nation that now feels its own division, brokenness and need for healing. Bill’s book goes about opening up his story, his movement in that healing that, as it happens within, moves us out to others. Not in some way in which Bill has gone on a campaign, but rather on a conversion, a path of deep inner healing or metanoia, as he notes, a change of heart and mind and because of that, disposition, attitude and the way in which we would work or interact with others.”
Claude Adair
— A Friend and Fellow Reader
“Bill was the first friend to model for me ― white guy to white guy ― a process for learning how to be anti-racist. I am eternally grateful for how Bill’s example has helped me slowly open my heart and mind to the realities of racism and reinforced the message that the hard and difficult ‘truth will set you free.’”
Scott Benjamin
— CEO of Charles Settlement House and The Community Place of Greater Rochester, N.Y.
“Bill has been a leader in our community for decades, but he wasn’t satisfied with the comfort that afforded him. He dares to dig deep into his own life and experiences to provide fresh perspectives on white privilege.”
Kathleen Petronio
— friend and a history advocate by education
“Whether there is agreement or not with the premise set forth in this book, there is no denying Mr. Wynne writes with honesty, insight and conviction. His openness and soul searching makes this book well worth reading.”
Jennifer Leonard
— President & CEO, Rochester Area Community Foundation
“Bill Wynne’s authentic and engaging narrative melds memoir with social justice and spiritual self-discovery. A thoughtful and inspiring self-inquiry about how we can learn to value the ‘other.’”
Jane Sutter Brandt
— Writer and Editor at Sutter Communications
“Anyone who reads his book with an open mind and an equally open heart will be inspired to examine his/her/their own beliefs and behaviors. Wynne shares his journey with honesty and humility.”
Gaynelle Wethers
— Retired Educator
“This memoir is a lived testimony that is timely and will serve as an example for each of us, especially white males, to be introspective as it relates to race and racism. Reading this with my head and heart gives me hope for the future.”
Paul L. Caccamise
— LMSW/ ACSW
“Few are as dedicated to confronting the lingering impact of racism head-on as Bill is. This book shows his unflinching willingness to examine his own journey as a white American male growing up in the second half of the 20th century and his dedication to forging a path to social and racial justice.”
Kathleen Brady
— author of the biographies Lucille, The Life of Lucille Ball; Francis and Clare: The Struggles of the Saints of Assisi; and Ida Tarbell: Portrait of a Muckraker
“Bill Wynne makes a sincere and wide-ranging examination of his developing consciousness of racism in the US, and he spares neither himself, the Catholic Church, nor the white population in his conclusions, even as he sees hope for the future.”
Denis Joseph Stemmle
— author of Puddles from a Drooling Mind, Pope Nobody the Great, and Matthew’s Dilemma
“Bill Wynne’s memoir clearly has an agenda: gently yanking me out of my oblivion. By telling his own story, he focused me on important questions of injustice.”
Frank Staropoli
— Co-Founder, Exploring Racism Groups
“I’ve been fortunate to be a witness to the journey Bill Wynne has chronicled here. In fact, his continual push to learn more, understand better, and most importantly to act as an anti-racist has often inspired me in my own journey to deeper understanding and action.”
