On July 15th, Braver Angels sought an answer to one of the most charged and challenging questions facing our country today. Is racism embedded in our institutions, our culture, our American story? This debate brought a panel of passionate voices together for an honest conversation about the state of our nation’s values and systems.
‘It absolutely changed my life’: How a conflict-ridden ‘dirtball’ became a legendary bridge builder
09/02/2026
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Growing up in the eighties, his family moved all around the Midwest as his parents chased down steady, blue-collar work: factory jobs, construction, truck driving, whatever could pay the bills. “We were always poor,” Wilk said. And whether they were in Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, or Minnesota, he often found himself on the outs. “It didn’t matter which side of the tracks we were on,” he said. “It was always the wrong side of the tracks.”
