When Geoffrey Newman arrived as the new Dean of the Arts at Montclair State University, he quickly discovered a culture shaped by fear, resentment, and open hostility. Confronted with racism and homophobia—even graffiti filled with hateful slurs—he chose a different response. Rather than reacting with anger, he set out to rebuild trust through listening, compassion, and community.

Growing up as a gay Black man, I learned early what it meant to live in a world shaped by fear, anger, and prejudice. But the lessons passed down by my parents, my community, and the Black church taught me another path—one rooted in compassion, dignity, and love. In this essay, I reflect on how confronting hatred without surrendering to it became a defining lesson in my life.