Robert Shropshire taught my academy and made me laugh and he made me think about racism, reverse racism, what blocks each of us from being our potential is just a story, which we can change, simple as that. (Then he got angry about getting married and he did a collegium which just blew everyone away.) He was also a facilitator for the Gibson Human Development Project Consult in Gibson, North Carolina. I remember when he said he had never seen a Southern town like Gibson before. He kept singing this song about the company store under his breath. Those of us who were there knew what he meant. And then he turned around and said that as a Black African American man his role was about healing - accountability, absolution and healing. Then he went and did the Contradiction workshop. It was painful. He held everyone accountable, white, black, American Indians, everyone.Then he said it was time for forgiveness. The room was silent. Everyone looked at the white Mayor, who ran the company store. Then it was like a revival. Amen, Amen, Amens were said all around, started first by the Black reverends, and the black school principal, then everyone.... (Or at least that is how I remember it.) Later, he said, may be he would go to hell for this, but that is what he needed to do. Amen to men of courage like Robert Shropshire. Sing the Gibson Town Song under your breath and then Amazing Grace. His mother is named Evelyn and his daughter is named Evelyn...I never met anyone besides Bob who knew another Evelyn. I am so sorry to hear of his death. I somehow feel he is some where laughing with the Mystery expecting great things from us all to carry out God's unfinished work. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and colleagues who lived, and worked with Robert Shropshire, a very courageous man indeed. Evelyn Kurihara Philbrook.