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An Enlivening Heritage: Reintroducing Robert ColesJeff Kelly Lowenstein is the database and investigative editor at Hoy, the Chicago Tribune’s Spanish-language newspaper, and president of the Dart Society, an international organization of journalists who cover issues of trauma and violence with sensitivity and compassion. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Herald, the Daily Herald and The Common Review, among other publications. Kelly Lowenstein’s work has won local, regional, and national awards, including an NABJ National Media Award in 2010 and the Chicago Headline Club’s Watchdog Award for Excellence in Public Interest Reporting in 2008. He blogs about books and other topics at www.kellylowenstein.wordpress.com.
I'd not known of Coles with Chaney, Schwerzer, Goodman -- and Moses -- that night. But with Williams, Percy, Springsteen, and the others -- wonderful, such a heritage, such decency, it almost redeems America for what it's otherwise become to itself and to the world.
After reading Children of Crisis, I went on a two week bicycle trip through Mississippi and Louisiana and wrote to Dr. Coles about that trip -- a trip that changed my life. And was gracious enough to write a lengthy note back to me. Later I had the opportunity to meet him when I was working for Gail Sheehy when she was writing Pathfinders.
Robert Coles is an inspiration and has made and is still making the world a better place by his presence and his untiring commitment to helping us understand and be better human beings.