The University of South Carolina
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM
and
CAROLINA PRODUCTIONS

present the
14th ANNUAL ROBERT SMALLS LECTURE

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Dr. Cornel West

Thursday, March 31, 2011
Koger Center for the Arts
1051 Greene Street
Columbia, SC 29201
8:00 PM

FREE
But You Must Obtain A Ticket

One of America's most provocative public intellectuals, Cornel West has been a champion for racial justice since childhood. His 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.

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Currently the Class of 1943 Professor at Princeton University, Dr. 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 his latest work, Hope on a Tightrope, he offers courageous commentary on issues that affect the lives of all Americans.   Themes include Race, Leadership, Faith, Family, Philosophy, Love and Service. Cornel West has published 19 other books and has edited 13 texts.

In just 3 short years, Dr. West graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. Martin Kilson, one of his professors there, describes West as the most intellectually aggressive and highly cerebral student I have taught.; earning his Ph.D. at Princeton, he became a professor of religion and director of the Afro-American Studies program there. West has also taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris.

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In his last book Democracy Matters, West analyzes the arrested development of democracy both in America and in the crisis-ridden Middle East. He argues that if America is to become a better steward of democratization around the world, it must first recognize its own long history of imperialist corruption. His latest CD, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations is a collection of socially conscience music featuring collaborations with Prince, Outkast, Jill Scott, and Talib Kweli. West also offers commentary weekly on The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI.

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West was an influential force in developing the storyline for the popular Matrix movie trilogy and has served as its official spokesperson, as well as playing a recurring role in the final two films.

FREE – BUT YOU MUST OBTAIN A TICKET
(Ticket information as follows)

FRIENDS and GUEST OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM

• Can pick up your tickets from
  The Carolina Coliseum Box Office,
  now through March 30, 2011
• Between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm
  ~~4 per person ticket limit~~

USC STUDENTS, FACULTY and STAFF

• Can get a free ticket (in advance)
  at The Russell House Information Center
• Now through March 30, 2011
• You will need to show your Carolina Card
• Student - 1 ticket per person
• Faculty and Staff can get up to 2 tickets

Night of the Lecture, March 31st
KOGER CENTER DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM

• A limited amount of tickets will be available at the Koger Center for the Arts on the night of the lecture
• If you have not obtained your ticket in advance, all parties will have to get their ticket from Koger Center at 7:00 pm
• USC students, faculty and staff are required to bring their ID Carolina Card or get in the non-USC guest line.

Robert Smalls Lecture Series

First inaugurated in 1997, this lecture series has grown from the African American Studies Program's strong sense of identification with South Carolina history and culture, past and present.

Robert Smalls was originally known as a daring hero during the Civil War. He was later elected to the United States Congress from South Carolina during the Reconstruction era. Although his life is inextricably connected to South Carolina history, Robert Smalls is often noticeably absent from standard historical accounts. His contributions to political, economic, and educational reform were so significant that in 1976 during the celebration of the Nation's Bicentennial, Governor Edwards issued a proclamation setting aside February 22, 1976 as Robert Smalls Day in the entire state of South Carolina. Just as an understanding of Robert Small's life and times enriches and expands our understanding of South Carolina's history, so, in a broad sense, do the insights offered by African American Studies Scholarship deepen our understanding of American life.

Previous Lectures in this series:

2010

2009

2008

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2007

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2006

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2005

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2004

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2003

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2002

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2001

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2000

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1999

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1997

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Robert Smalls