From Athlete to Advocate: Dr. Phil Allen on Healing, History, and Hope

This week, I sit down with Dr. Phil Allen—a former All-American basketball player turned theologian, poet, and prophetic voice. From the basketball courts of North Carolina A&T to the halls of Fuller Seminary, Phil shares his remarkable journey from hoop dreams to a life dedicated to ministry, ethics, and racial healing.

We explore his moving documentary “Open Wounds”, inspired by the tragic story of his grandfather—an untold chapter of racial violence that Phil discovered later in life. The film made its way to Sundance and now serves as a centerpiece for our discussion on generational trauma and redemption.

We also dive into his powerful book, "The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency From MLK to Darnella Frazier", examining how the lens—literal and metaphorical—shapes our understanding of justice, especially in the wake of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and others.

Topics include:

• Phil’s transformation from athlete to scholar and poet
• Life at North Carolina A&T
• The making of Open Wounds
• Faith, ethics, race, and culture
• The power of video and voice in modern civil rights
• Running as a spiritual and physical discipline

This conversation is thoughtful, raw, and full of hope. Tune in to hear how one man’s story speaks to a much bigger truth, and calls us to learn, engage, resist, and at the same time, stay healthy.

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