In the reading from Acts of the Apostles this Easter Sunday, Saint Peter pulls no punches describing the manner in which Jesus died: “They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.”

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. ... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

A growing share of Americans say that racism in society is a big problem. Half of Americans now say this, up from 33 percent five years earlier.