James Earl Jones to speak on racism

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DETROIT, April 15 (UPI) -- Actor James Earl Jones says the best way to combat racism is to speak to a person's heart instead of his mind.

Jones, 73, the Oscar-nominated actor with an instantly recognizable baritone voice, will share his wisdom on race relations April 22 at Central Michigan University's Lem Tucker Scholarship banquet in Detroit, the Detroit News reported Thursday.

"You have to get beyond a person's intellect and get into their feelings. When talking about racism, there is a certain futility in trying to reach someone intellectually because all the information is already out there," Jones told the News.

"Look at all the sacrifices that have been made. Look at the Civil War, World War II, Holocaust and civil rights struggle. After all that, we still have upsurges in anti-Semitism and racism.

"The question is why does it keep reoccurring? Racism is an insanity. It's a disease," he said. "And if you think a black person can't be racist, think again."