A Grand Opening and Closing We Will Never Forget

“A highlight was seeing all the flags at the opening ceremony” someone wrote in their evaluations, and went on to say “and the dialogue between Louis and Angelique over social wound. MY empathy was deepened” “The closing event was incredibly moving, courageous, and enlightening” wrote another.

Angelique Burk and Louis Macleod

Louis Macleod arranged trumpeters, singers, and even an impersonator of the Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl, who told the history of the South and its struggle towards equality, in order to provide a social context for our Imago work in this historic city. But the choices Louis made were problematic for others. “It was hard to receive a Caucasian male sing ‘Go Down Moses’” was a comment that captured the feeling of many who attended the spectacular opening ceremony.

Setting a magnificent example by his openness to others concerns, Louis agreed to shelve the plans for the spectacular closing ceremony he had planned. Instead he agreed to hold an Imago dialogue with Angelique Burke, an African-American woman, and another member of the Atlanta organizing committee. She gave voice to her own pain at feeling that the opening ceremony did not include people of color.

“The most touching moment was the closing ceremony” someone wrote, but captured succinctly what so many of us felt. Angelique was in tears as she shared her pain, but never for a moment did Louis become defensive or reactive, as he mirrored, validated, and empathized with Angelique’s pain. Many joined in afterwards, to share thoughts captured here in one person’s comment “I am keenly aware of the great need for diversity – specifically therapists and clients of color, if it is the goal of the Imago organization to touch the world – and I believe we must increase our efforts of touching and sharing with those that we’ve yet to embrace.”

As a beautiful closure, one of our newly appointed faculty members from Austria, who is herself a symbol of our broadening reach, led us in singing a simple song of togetherness that Helen Hunt had included in her presentation earlier.