November 3, 2022
Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. will be joining MCLA to present the 2022 Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy Lecture. Glaude, a New York Times Bestselling Author and the Chair of Princeton’s Department of African Studies will be speaking about “Race & Democracy: America is Always Changing, But America Never Changes” on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Church Street Center Auditorium.
Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. is an author, political commentator, public intellectual, and passionate educator who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and his most recent, the New York Times bestseller, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own, takes a broad look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges we face as a democracy.
Glaude left his home in Moss Point, Mississippi at age 16 to begin studies at the HBCU and alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He holds a master’s degree in African American Studies from Temple University and a Ph.D. in Religion from Princeton University.
Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton. He is also on the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. He frequently appears in the media, as a columnist for TIME Magazine and as an MSNBC contributor, and regularly appears on Meet the Press. He also hosts Princeton’s AAS podcast.
A highly accomplished and respected scholar of religion, Glaude is a former president of the American Academy of Religion. His books on religion and philosophy include An Uncommon Faith: A Pragmatic Approach to the Study of African American Religion, African American Religion: A Very Short Introduction, and Exodus! Religion, Race, and Nation in Early 19th Century Black America, which was awarded the Modern Language Association’s William Sanders Scarborough Book Prize.
Glaude is known both for his inspiring oratory and ability to convene conversations that engage fellow citizens from all backgrounds — from young activists to corporate audiences looking for a fresh perspective on DEI. In 2011, he delivered Harvard’s DuBois lectures. His 2015 commencement remarks at Colgate University titled, "Turning Our Backs," was recognized by the New York Times as one of the best commencement speeches of the year.
Combining a scholar’s knowledge of history, a political commentator’s take on the latest events, and an activist’s passion for social justice, Glaude challenges all of us to examine our collective American conscience, "not to posit the greatness of America, but to establish the ground upon which to imagine the country anew."
This event is free and open to the public. Call 413-662-5224 for more information or zoom details. A student and faculty question and answer session will occur at 4:15 in the Freel Library prior to the lecture.
In 2008, MCLA announced the establishment of the Michael S. and Kitty Dukakis Public Policy lecture series, making public policy forums an ongoing part of the College's long-term speaker offerings, in complement to MCLA's major in political science and public policy. The series is made possible through the generosity of the Ruth E. Proud Charitable Trust.
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