January 18, 2007

BCC, American studies sponsor dialogue series on race

The Difficult Dialogue series is structured to provide graduate students and faculty the opportunity to present their research to the public in an effort to build relations between the university and surrounding community.

The series will start on Feb. 6, during BCC's salute to Black History Month, which is observed during the month. It will continue at 2 p.m. at the BCC on the first Wednesday of each month.

"American studies is proud to partner with the Black Cultural Center on this crucial set of dialogues on race," said Bill Mullen, director of the American Studies Program. "American studies students Erik C. Wade, Jolivette Anderson-Douoning and Sherrema Bower provided outstanding leadership in putting together this important program. The participation of so many of our students as speakers and moderators demonstrates the program's long commitment to advancing knowledge and understanding of the role race plays in the struggle for justice in U.S. and global societies."

Anderson-Douoning praised the learning environment of the BCC.

"The Black Cultural Center is a repository for information, programs and experiences related to how African-Americans and others of the African diaspora have lived, worked and built relationships with all people in the world," Anderson-Douoning said.

"The BCC is an excellent space, historically and academically, to have these discussions and everyone is invited to participate. I approach the Difficult Dialogue series with a great enthusiasm, knowing that it is my duty as a cultural worker, a student and a person who cares deeply about the future of how we as African-Americans are represented on a global scale, to ask and respond to questions dealing with race."

Writer: Greg McClure, (765) 494-9394, gmcclure@purdue.edu

Source: Renee Thomas, Black Cultural Center director, (765) 494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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