To illustrate his point, Dees narrated the story of a racially motivated hanging of a young black man from Mobile, Ala. in 1981. When arguing a lawsuit against the Klan and two of its members for the man's death, Dees said he was presented with a profound example of love's power to conquer hate. Before the jury was to announce the verdict of the case, one of the defendants pleaded forgiveness from the victim's mother.

"She said, 'Son, I've already forgiven you,' and there was not a dry eye in the courtroom," Dees said. "I thought the words that came out of her mouth that afternoon were of higher power than the $7 million verdict that was delivered."

Explaining that America is a country divided on racial issues, Dees urged the audience to work toward teaching tolerance and understanding. With American society divided by race, class, sexual orientation and gender, there are no simple solutions to racial problems, he said. Dees suggested the fight against hate, though long and difficult, must reach beyond courtrooms and into classrooms.

Tolerance of racial differences is paramount in a country where skin color is still a privilege for some, Dees said.

Robyn Stephens (senior-sociology), who attended Dees' speech with her Sociology 409 (Inequality in America) class, said she was impressed by his presentation of less obvious forms of racism.

"He ended up being a lot better than I expected because he dealt with institutionalized racism in addition to everyday occurrences," Stephens said.

Citing his admission to University of Alabama School of Law and the approval of a bank loan for his first house as the results of "white privilege," Dees described the racial climate of America. Society had long instituted affirmative action in favor of whites, Dees said, evidenced by the preferential treatment given to whites over other minorities.

Cindy Baney of Hollidaysburg said she found Dees' mention of "white privilege" helpful in addressing her own experiences. Baney, a member and financial supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the nonprofit organization co-founded by Dees, said she found his similar rural background interesting.

"I was really pleased to hear him acknowledge 'white privilege,' " Baney said. "When you come from central Pennsylvania, with a small nonwhite population, it is hard to overcome the limitations of this."