The 2011-2012 theme of Enduring Questions: The Mark Collier Lecture Series explores America's commitment to three fundamental tenets of the constitution from varying perspectives.
- How are these issues viewed from both a contemporary and historical lens?
- To what extent does American democracy provide authentic freedom and equality and justice?
- How does each of us come to understand America�s commitment to these ideals?
Kenji Yoshino
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
8:00 p.m., Kleist Center for Art & Drama, 95 E. Bagley Rd.
Having been called the face and voice of the new civil rights, Dr. Kenji Yoshino argues that each of us "covers" by suppressing aspects of our identity in exchange for acceptance. He articulates the victories and limitations of the movement while pointing a way forward. His landmark book, Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights, was hailed for its potential to be a "touchstone in the struggle for universal human dignity." Educated at Harvard, Oxford (as a Rhodes Scholar), and Yale Law School, he is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at the NYU School of Law.
Mary OwusuA rising scholar with expertise in African history, politics and ancient history, Mary Owusu brings an energy and passion to her work. A historian from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, she offers fresh perspectives on Africa and America from World War II to Mandela. A researcher and presenter, she has earned the respect of scholars and audiences alike. In 2007 she was a Cadbury Fellow for the Centre for West African Studies at the University of Birmingham, UK. She is spending a year at B-W as a Visiting Fulbright Scholar.
James Cone
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
8:00 p.m., Kulas Musical Arts Bldg., 96 Front St.
A strong voice that speaks out for the oppressed, Dr. James Cone is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary. The author of 11 books, he is best known for his groundbreaking works, Black Theology & Black Power and A Black Theology of Liberation. Insightful and articulate, he believes that "Being black in America has little to do with skin color. Being black means that your heart, your soul, your mind, and your body are where the dispossessed are."
Cosponsored by the MLK Week Committee
Reza Aslan
Thursday, March 22, 2012
8:00 p.m., Kulas Musical Arts Bldg., 96 Front St.
A powerful speaker who represents a generation of Muslims ready to usher in a new era of Islamic democracy, Dr. Reza Aslan is the Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside. An author and entrepreneur who speaks with authority, wit and optimism, he is committed to showing Americans the true face of Islam today. He believes that extremism is winding down despite the media�s claims. His international bestseller No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam has been named by Blackwell Publishers as one of the 100 most important books of the last decade.
|
|
