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can’t say that I believe in reincarnation, but awkwardly — me, a teenage black girl; he, a
5
II understand why some people do. In fact, I had middle-aged white man. I never saw him again.
a bizarre experience as a teenager that made me The incident shook me deeply. This was not
wonder if I had known someone in a past life. a case of mistaken identity. Something profound
I was walking to school one day, lost in and mysterious happened and we both knew it.
thought. I turned the corner onto a wide, tree- Still, I’m not among the 33 percent of Americans
lined street and noticed a man on the other side (including 29 percent of Christians) who believe
heading my direction. For an instant, we held in reincarnation. Lately, though, I’ve been
Changing the World
each other’s gaze and a startling wave of thinking that if more of us did believe we were
excitement and recognition washed over me. We coming back, it could change everything.
spontaneously ran toward each other, as if to At first, I thought about reincarnation in the 5
embrace a long-lost friend, relative or lover. But narrowest possible terms, wondering what
just as we were close enough to see the other’s future life I’d earn if karma proved real. It’s a
face, we were both jolted by the awareness that worrisome thing to contemplate. It’s easier to
we didn’t actually know each other. speculate about what kind of future lives other
We stood in the middle of the street, people deserve. Maybe Bull Connor — that white
bewildered. I mumbled, “I’m so sorry — I thought supremacist Alabama politician who ordered
I knew you.” Equally embarrassed, he replied: that black schoolchildren protesting segregation
“Oh, my God, this is so strange. What’s be attacked with police dogs and fire hoses —
happening right now?” We backed away has already been born again as a black child in a

© 2019 Joel Pett. All rights reserved.

What point is this cartoon making, and how does it compare to what Alexander is
suggesting?

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Copyright © Bedford/St. Martin’s. Uncorrected proofs have been used in this sample chapter.
Distributed by BFW Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.

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