“Did you play? Baseball, I mean. Not for the Yankees.”

“I learned that I had no talent for it in about junior high, but I still love the game. If I was a Yankees player now, I would be extremely proud of the heritage and the legacy that comes along with my team and slipping on that uniform. Some of the greatest players to ever live have worn a uniform that wasn’t all that different. Same colors, same team. Babe Ruth. Gehrig. Mantle. Reggie Jackson. If I was a player wearing that uniform now, I would be damn delighted of being part of that cultural legacy. I would never want to lose it or erase it. I would be proud of it.”

“Just like you’re proud to be a black man.”

“Damn right. From Martin Luther King Jr. and Booker T. Washington to Harriet Tubman or even Michael Jordan and Morgan Freeman and too many to list in a lifetime. I’m proud of that cultural heritage.”

“Then why did you marry someone with a different heritage?”

“A very simple reason. Because I loved her.”

“But wouldn’t it have been easier if—”

“First of all, kid, love doesn’t see color. Just like God doesn’t. But I suppose, we had some moments of difficulty because of it. People are a lot more tolerant nowadays than they were when we were first married, but I wouldn’t necessarily say we were persecuted. Although, I’m sure we were a conversation topic at more than one dinner party.”

“But isn’t it hard enough for two people to get along in a marriage without having those extra inherent hurdles?”

“What would be the fun if we were all the same? A society without diversity will shrivel up and die. Diversity is at the core of societal and cultural growth. But that’s where we need Ubuntu.”

“Which you still haven’t really explained.”

“Ubuntu is a lot like the Golden Rule or the greatest commandment, if you’re a Christian. It’s just about taking care of each other. It’s the concept that we don’t exist in a vacuum. In Western society, we have this idea that we are independent of one another, and that we should do only what’s best for us and our immediate circle of community. But the concept of Ubuntu would have us reject that individualist thinking, and do unto others as if their well-being really does benefit us. To help the stranger and people who are different or less fortunate than ourselves. To embrace them because of those differences. Desmond Tutu said that we’re made for togetherness, family, fellowship, and to exist in a tender network of interdependence. If we could all do a bit more of that, the world be a hell of a lot better place. And we could make racism and bigotry a thing of the past.”

“So how do we get people to embrace Ubuntu and stop hating each other?”

Carter laughed. “I just catch bad guys and try to be a decent human being, kid. I only act smart. But if you have any theories about how to convince people to stop despising one another or any ideas on eliminating ignorance and intolerance, you be sure to let me know.”