January 5, 2005
Sociologist-author to speak at Purdue in honor of MLK Day
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Sociologist and best-selling author Bertice Berry will speak about "Becoming an Instrument for Change" on Jan. 17 as part of Purdue University's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
Berry will speak at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The event, which is free and open to the public, is being sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Human Relations as part of a series called Affirming the Dream X: Instruments for Change in collaboration with the Diversity Resource Office, Black Cultural Center, African American Studies and Research Center, Office of the Vice President for Housing and Food Services, and the Boiler Volunteer Network.
"We are delighted to be able to bring Bertice Berry to the greater Lafayette area," said Alysa Rollock, vice president for human relations. "Her leadership and scholarly background combined with her wit and wisdom fit perfectly with our salute to Martin Luther King Jr."
Berry uses humor in her lectures to address difficult subjects such as racism and sexism. She earned a doctorate in sociology and taught sociology and statistics at Kent State University before winning awards as an entertainer, lecturer and comedienne.
She was the host and co-executive producer of her own nationally syndicated talk show, "The Bertice Berry Show," and was the host of "USA Live," a four-hour live interview and entertainment show on the USA Network. Berry has been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," and "BET Live" with Tavis Smiley.
Berry is the author of the best-selling inspirational memoir "I'm On My Way, But Your Foot Is On My Head." Her first work of fiction, "Redemption Song," also a best seller, was called an inspiring debut novel and a tribute to the power of the written word. Berry followed "Redemption Song" with another bestseller, "The Haunting of Hip Hop" and the spiritual tale "Jim & Louella Homemade Heart-fix Remedy."
Other events during "Affirming the Dream X: Instruments for Change" include the gifts-in-kind drive through Jan. 12, in which donations of family health items are being collected for Food Finders Food Bank Inc.; the annual Day of Service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 17, which is open to Purdue students, faculty, staff members and retirees who would like to volunteer with one of more than 100 community services agencies in Tippecanoe County; a faculty and staff luncheon on Jan. 19 called Purdue and Diversity during the Life and Times of Martin Luther King Jr. – A Retrospective, featuring Denise Driscoll, diversity resource specialist; and a presentation for students on Jan. 19 called Drum Major for Justice, featuring Jacquett Wade, coordinator of student diversity services.
More information about Affirming the Dream X: Instruments for Change can be found online.
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Sources: Alysa Rollock, (765) 494-5830, acrollock@purdue.edu
Janice Beard, Office of the Vice President for Human Relations, (765) 494-5830, jabeard@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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