I Rev. Willard
Bass Jr.
Rev. Willard Bass Jr., Assistant Pastor of Green Street United Methodist
Church and Director of IDR Inc.
What is the movie or TV mini-series
linked to Black History that has had
the greatest impact on your life
and why?
The movie "12 Years a Slave" is a reminder of
the horrific nature of slavery in the US and what
our ancestors endured to just do life during that
period of history. It also gives hope in the midst of
oppression because it affirms what determination
to live can result at the end of a horrible encounter.
What is the book linked to Black
History that has had the greatest
impact on your life and why?
The Book Marks festival book "I Didn't Know What
I Didn't Know" by Dorothy Hampton Marcus and
Kaypri. The biography is "a southern white woman's
story about race" and the realization that race is a
crazy mix of socializations and experiences that
when unchecked create a whole of privilege and
oppression. But, when one consciously steps into
the madness can make a tremendous difference
in how just life can be for the oppressor and the
oppressed. Dorothy is said to have been".. .a leading
force in the fight for integration and racial equality"
What is the play or musical linked
to Black History that has had the
greatest impact on your life and why?
The Black Theater Festivals "Black Nativity" is
always a production that lifts out the emotions of
belief in a God that transcends the heavens and
earth to love and bring justice to all!
What is the song linked to Black
History that has had the greatest
impact on your life and why?
Marvin Gayes, "What's Going On" is a classic on
the reality life in the US. He calls us to "find ways
to love to reality" in the midst of turmoil and pain.
There is a higher call for family, parents, children
and neighbors alike.
What is the poem linked to Black
History that has had the greatest
impact on your life and why?
Maya Angelou's "I know Why the Cage Bird Sings,"
speaks to the plight of women everywhere who
struggle to just do life without pain and hurt.
The Chronicle was founded in 1974.
What news story linked to Black
History in The Chronicle has had
the greatest impact on your life and
why? Or, what news story linked to
Black History in general has had the
greatest impact on your life
and why?
The Chronicle has been arid still is the stalwart of
truth in media for our community. It has tried to
present the news in unbiased manner for the most
part. The most recent story linked to Black History
is the MLK Breakfast challenge to the "Racism as
America's Berlin Wall." I believe the courage to
call out systemic racism and offer a solution that
evolves the whole community was and is visionary
for the future of our city. Kudos to The Chronicle?.
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PHOTO BY CHANEL DAVIS
Willard Bass & Dr. George Banks
Rev Bass Bio
Rev. Willard Bass Jr., M. Div. is an ordained
minister whose vocation is centered on
building authentic communities of equity
across racial and ethnic divides in all sectors
of the community. He director of the Institute
for Dismantling Racism and Assistant
Pastor of Green Street United Methodist
Church. He has been able to engage the
broader community in the work of long-term
institutional transformation for social change.
As the Assistant Pastor of Outreach for
Green Street United Methodist Church,
Bass is currently engaged in a broad range 1
of civic and church activities all focused, in
various ways, on building and enhancing
community through dismantling racism and S
other injustices. \
Bass founded the Institute for Dismantling
Racism (IDR, Inc.) in 2004 as a collaborative
with a focus on addressing institutional
racism. Bass has had major careers in industry,
construction, and as an independent business
owner. He turned to higher education, theology
and church leadership with a vision of creating
an anti-racist multicultural diverse community.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree
from Fayetteville State University, one of the
historically black colleges and universities
(HBCU) located in North Carolina.
He has held board positions with several
community and religious organizations.
Bass has been married to Shirley Lewis Bass
for 33 years. They have three children: Kenya,
Willard III and Fumisho.