Champion of Racial Justice Cornel West to Speak at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Cornel West, a champion for racial justice since childhood who is considered by many to be one of America’s most provocative public intellectuals, will give a lecture at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 in Morgan Auditorium on The University of Alabama campus.

West’s writing, speaking and teaching weave together the traditions of the black Baptist Church, progressive politics and jazz. The New York Times has praised his “ferocious moral vision,” and he was recently interviewed on “The Colbert Report” for his latest book “Hope on a Tightrope.”

“We are very honored to host Cornel West’s visit. His critical insight on race and American culture is sharp and piercingly profound and continues to offer standards by which many measure our cultural conscious,” said Dr. DoVeanna S. Fulton Minor, associate professor and chair of the department of women’s studies and director of the African American studies program, both in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences.

West’s lecture is part of the Martin Luther King Distinguished Lecture Series. He will be available for a book signing following the lecture.

“Particularly in this historic election year, Dr. West’s visit will create the opportunity for engaged discussion of race and the American body politic that can energize The University of Alabama campus,” Fulton Minor said. “Because he is one of the most well-known public intellectuals of our day, we anticipate that Dr. West’s lecture truly will be a community event, drawing attendees from surrounding colleges and universities as well as the general public.”

Currently the Class of 1943 Professor at Princeton University, West burst onto the national scene in 1993 with his bestselling book, “Race Matters,” a searing analysis of racism in American democracy. “Race Matters” has become a contemporary classic, selling more than half-a-million copies to date. In addition, West has edited 13 texts and published 16 other books with an upcoming book, “Hope on a Tightrope,” due to hit shelves in November 2008.

West earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in three years, graduating magna cum laude. After earning his doctorate at Princeton University, West became a professor of religion and director of Afro-American studies program there. West also has taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale University, Harvard University and the University of Paris.

The lecture is sponsored by UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, Martin Luther King, Jr. Realizing the Dream Committee, African American studies program, vice president for community affairs, department of political science, College of Communication and Information Sciences, New College, Summersell Center for the Study of the South, department of religious studies, department of American studies, Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

For more information, contact Dr. Jimmy Williams, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, at 348-7007 or jwilliams@as.ua.edu.