Geoff: In 1889, the
industrialist Andrew Carnegie,
one of the richest men of his
age, wrote an essay titled "The
gospel of wealth", calling on
those with money to use it to
promote the general good, and
laying a foundation for
philanthropy in this country.
Now comes "From generosity to
justice: A new gospel of wealth"
that proposes shifting the focus
of giving.
Its author: Darren walker,
president of the Ford foundation
which for the record, is a
, funder of the newshour.
Jeffrey brown spoke to walker
for our arts and culture series,
canvas.
>> This was the original.
>> Darren walker says the
mission of the Ford foundation
is simple.
He is a true believer in the
mission and power of
institutions like his to advance
it.
He also sees a problem.
>> I wanted to say that while
philanthropy is good and we
should be proud of it, there is
so much more we can do to move
from the idea of generosity to
the aspiration of justice for
all.
>> He became president of the
$60 million foundation in 2013.
He is in the business of giving
away money in this country and
abroad.
He is part of a movement in
recent years to shift
philanthropy's focus.
The renaming afford's Manhattan
headquarters to the center of
social justice.
We spoke recently in the
foundation's atrium garden.
What does justice mean and the
context of philanthropy?
>> We see too many people live
without dignity, are stripped of
their dignity, their humanity is
ignored, while we do terrible
activities.
Philanthropy needs to go deeper.
Part of the aspiration of this
book is to lift up the voices
and experiences of those
philanthropists who are doing it
in America and around the world.
>> He is now part of the power
elite but his roots go back to
small-town east Texas, where he
was raised by a single mother.
He said the opportunity to
attend a publicly attended head
start preschool program for
lower income children changed
everything.
>> It changed my life.
It put me on a trajectory where
I could go to public schools,
great public universities,
Texas, and then be off into the
world.
That was because I lived in a
country -- the potential for me
to have a life with dignity.
>> And you still hold that past,
even though you are now a big
player in the world of
philanthropy?
>> I see my role as an insider
as understanding the plight of
those who are outside, who are
left out and left behind.
Yes, I absolutely believe it.
I have to say, I believe in this
country.
I believe in the idea of
America.
When I feel angry at this
country, or rage for some
injustice, it is because my
patriotism, my belief in the
words of our founding fathers is
unwavering.
>> One of the things you write
in the book, you say wealthy
people should ask themselves,
where are my resources most
needed?
Aren't they asking that
question?
Is nothing question they
normally ask?
>> Most philanthropy in this
question goes to wealthy
institutions that often serve
the wealthy underprivileged.
>> From wealth to wealth serving
>> Look at the percentage of
philanthropy the goes to wealthy
colleges and universities.
Hospitals.
Independent private schools.
These institutions primarily
serve the wealthy, or certainly
people who have more privilege.
I am simply saying we should ask
ourselves, how do we direct our
philanthropy to those who are
most excluded?
>> Is it hard to change that
mindset of where the money goes?
>> I do not mean to say that
people need to have some
foundational transformation
change in thinking about
philanthropy.
What I mean to say is, get a
little uncomfortable.
When you look at organizations
working on the front lines in
homelessness, in building
affordable housing, working on
disability issues, these are
areas that are heavily under
resourced in philanthropy.
>> That means inevitably some
are getting it now might not get
it.
>> I think if we are prepared to
interrogate our privilege, we
will conclude the philanthropy
is not only about giving back,
but it might be also giving up
something so that we can have
America opportunity does exist
for all.
Social mobility escalator that I
was able to ride continues to go
up.
Does not slow down.
Does not stop as it has for far
too many Americans.
Which is contributing to our
political and civil unrest in
the sense that too many
Americans feel left out.
Rural America, where there is
not enough work going on in
philanthropy, parts of our
country that truly have been
left behind, and whether people
feel angry when they have every
right to be angry.
>> You know the critiques better
than anyone.
Philanthropic organizations,
foundations are built on the
fortunes of the very kinds of
inequities you are critiquing in
our society.
And they enjoy many tax breaks
that many of us don't and you
yourself write they live off of
and extend privilege and power.
>> There is no doubt there is a
contradiction in a foundation
having billions of dollars in an
endowment and talking about
inequality.
But I believe we have to talk
about a different kind of
economic system, or capitalism,
which in my few is the best way
to organize an economic system,
produces less inequality.
People like me, we need to ask
ourselves, how do we deal with
these contradictions of our
privilege and our aspirations
for opportunity?
We have to be intentional.
>> From generosity to justice,
Darren walker, thank you very
much.
>> Thank you.