On this episode of Our American Stories, James Ward grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at a time when the city was still divided by race and geography. The Black Warrior River split the town in two, and children learned early which side they belonged to. For Ward, that separation defined his world until the third grade, when he was bused across town to a newly integrated school.

The change was immediate. The buildings were new, the paint was fresh, and the lawns were green. His teacher, Mrs. Pitts, carried herself with a quiet grace that left a lasting mark. She expected more of him than anyone else had and refused to let him settle for less. When his name appeared on the board for his good work, Ward realized that his worth wasn’t limited by the color of his skin or where he lived. That discovery became the turning point in his life.

Years later, as a pastor in Chicago, he carried that lesson into a nation struggling with anger and division. When the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha brought tensions to a breaking point, Ward called instead for prayer, peace, and forgiveness. His words spread quickly, resonating with people across the country who were desperate to hear a voice of calm.

His book, Zero Victim: Overcoming Injustice with a New Attitude, tells the story of how one teacher’s faith helped him see beyond bitterness and fear.

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