Wilder Writing a Book

Former Governor Wilder’s book will give his unique input on the nation’s history and it’s current challenges.

Wilder:  Hopefully it will talk about the history of our country, the history of our state, how it relates to race and what we’ve been able to accomplish and how we’ve been able to accomplish it, where we were, where we are and where we need to go as a nation.

Wilder says that over the years people have forgotten many important details of what led us over the decades to our current cultural and political climate.

Wilder:  People said, never in Virginia, how could Virginia be the first state to elect a person of color. My answer to that always was, ‘Why not Virginia? It’s where everything started.’

Wilder will be working with former Richmond Times Dispatch Columnist Cordell Faulk and political analyst Dr. Bob Holsworth who will serve as editors.

Wilder:  What we are trying to do is outline chapters now as to what we think the themes should be and then put the meat on those bones as we progress. We’ve outlined about six or so.

The former Governor says that while the nation’s most pressing task at the moment is economic recovery, education and a renewed emphasis on responsibility are also a great challenge.

Wilder:  Particularly the need for minority youngsters to see that it’s not going to last but so much longer that you’re not being able to be skilled or to have a job or to have an education. By skilled I mean either you go to school or you go into training for a trade. That’s something we’ve gotten away from; Vocational training and Vocational education.

Wilder says that children should be taught about economics earlier in life so they have a greater understanding about how Wall Street affects their daily lives.

Wilder:  I think we need to have a better understanding of money, and that should be taught in the earlier grades, and they do that at some schools. But it’s not at the level that people most affected sometimes get it to the extent that they need it. They need to know what the stock market’s about. They need to know what investment means and they need to know how to handle their own resources. More importantly, they need to have some lessons in self-reliance. When all else fails, what can you do and what need you do?

Wilder intends to have a manuscript ready for publication by fall.

Craig Carper, WCVE News, Capitol Square.