The theme of Walls’s book and the John Freeman Walls historical site is equal sisterhood and brotherhood of humankind.
photo by andrew raymond de souza

Students were educated on psychology and equality when author Bryan Walls visited Guelph-Humber.
The lecture explored Walls’s book, The Road That Led To Somewhere. It is a story about his family’s plight in coming to Canada by way of the underground railroad.
The book is a companion piece to the Pen or Pencil Mentorship Movement course, developed by the National Alliance of Faith and Justice, of which Walls is a member and facilitator.
Walls said no race is above the guilt of man’s inhumanity to man, pointing to the conflicts between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland.
He said even though black people should forgive their enslavers, reparations are needed to educate and empower black youth. The economic growth of North America is in part due to the free labour of black slaves, he added.
“Black people are ranked number one in the world as a group who is the victim of hate crimes. But we are last on the list in terms of economic progress.”
Walls also addressed the proposed all-black school system that is gaining momentum in the GTA.
“I feel that we got to give multi-culturalism a chance to work. There is no place in the work system where it is all black people. The benefits of the regular school system will not be shared by those students, namely a multicultural society.”
Walls is a direct descendant of John Freeman Walls, a runaway slave who made it to freedom in Windsor, Ont. through the underground railroad in the 1840s.  He established one of the more important terminals used by escaping slaves to get to Canada.
Walls has worked closely with law enforcement in Toronto and the GTA for the past ten years, helping the members of the force understand the history and mindset of black people in society.
Head of justice studies at Guelph-Humber Dino Doria introduced Walls to working with police forces.
“I met Bryan Walls about ten years ago when I was in law enforcement,” Doria said. He added Walls is a friend and someone he respects.
Walls continues to affect change among at-risk youth and the communities they live in and said this is especially needed now.
“Using psychology to change the way people think is a matter of survival in this post 9/11 world,” Walls said. “This will create a multi-disciplinary approach and creativity among at-risk youths.”
Guelph-Humber head of psychology Rena Borovilos is a firm believer in psychology being a very useful tool in deterring and understanding criminal behavior.
“Dr. Walls has done so much for the community and we are very lucky to have him come from so far and be able to share his experiences and his family’s experiences with us,” Borovilos said.