What is the Color of Your Heart: A Humanist Approach to Diversity

Explore the efforts of humanists committed to improving the lives of those less privileged in the United States.

In contrast with the capitalistically driven historical figures who have been given the lion’s share of attention in the rendering of United States history, What is the Color of Your Heart? A Humanist Approach to Diversity provides a fresh cast of historical and modern day figures whose values were rooted in humanist ideals that flourished into social justice activism.

The subjects in What is the Color of Your Heart? are white Euro-Americans who acted on behalf of people of color during the era of legal slavery, the mandated genocide of Native Americans, and the unequal status of women. Their lives not only inspire hope, but force us to question why we continue to protect and glorify those whose names resound in our history books of today.

Acts of selfless courage that changed the trajectory of this nation’s soul are fully discussed so the reader may not only consider the purpose of one’s life, but gain concrete examples of how to be an agent of change. Historical figures from Frederick Douglass to recent Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Coach C. Vivian Stringer, provide insight on how to bridge the racial reality gap. Narratives from modern day humanists provide a blueprint to healing the soul wound that has afflicted our capacity to live as a unified society. Their stories inspire hope.

What is the Color of Your Heart? integrates the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competences (MSJCC) to set the stage for educators using this book in the classroom setting to contextualize the assignments and measure student learning outcomes and growth.

In addition, the new edition features an additional chapter that recaps and challenges the student to apply the MSJCC competences within a socioecological model that includes intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, public policy and international/global levels.