January 09, 2008

Contact:   Bill Giduz

Roger Wilkins

Davidson College invites members of the public to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with educational seminars, a dramatic presentation, a gospel songfest, events for children, and a keynote address by Pulitzer Prize- winning journalist and civil rights advocate Roger Wilkins.

Events will be held Monday, Jan. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 23, and there is no charge to attend any of the activities. The series of events are titled “Equity: If Not Now, When?” The complete schedule of activities follows below.

Wilkins will speak during a Community Convocation beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Duke Family Performance Hall. Wilkins earned a law degree at the University of Michigan in 1956, and interned with Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund. Following graduation he worked in several government agencies for seven years, culminating in service as the assistant attorney general of the United States under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1966 to 1969.

Wilkins worked briefly for the Ford Foundation, then embarked on a successful career as an editor and commentator for newspapers and radio. He joined the editorial staff of the Washington Post, where he took on the role for which he is best known—exposing Watergate in the 1970’s. That work earned him the Pulitzer Prize, along with Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein and Hal Herblock.

Wilkins was a member of the editorial board of The New York Times in the late 1970s, served as associate editor of the now-defunct Washington Star, and then worked in broadcast journalism. In 1990, he became a network commentator for CBS and National Public Radio (NPR)—a role he continues to this day.

He has authored two books: A Man’s Life: An Autobiography and Jefferson’s Pillow: The Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism. He is also the publisher of the NAACP’s journal, Crisis, and the co-editor of Quiet Riots: Race and Poverty in the United States. He has written many book reviews and op-ed pieces for major American newspapers, published articles in dozens of magazines, and conceived, written and narrated two Frontline documentaries. He holds several honorary degrees, and has served on the boards of the NAACP and the African-American Institute. In 1990, he was the national coordinator of Nelson Mandela’s visit to the United States.

For more information on Martin Luther King Day events at Davidson, call 704-894-2225.

MONDAY, JANUARY 21

King Day for Kids Community Read-In

10 a.m.–Noon in the Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room. Sponsored by Engage for Change & The Davidson College Office of Community Service.

 Fun activities for children that focus on literacy. All children attending will receive an age-appropriate gift, so please RSVP your child’s attendance by calling 704-894-2225.

Community Lunch

Noon–1 p.m. in the Alvarez College Union, Brown Atrium

A free lunch will be offered to all who attend. Entertainment will be provided by The Mallard Creek House of Prayer for All People Shout Band.

The Return of the King: A Montage of a Dream Deferred

1:30 –2:45 p.m. in the Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room

Davidson student Darrel Scott ’10 and College Union Fellow Solvig Pittenger will lead a discussion of portrayal of blacks in the media based on clips of Aaron McGruder’s Boondocks and episodes of The Chappelle Show. How would Dr. King characterize the current state of blacks in America? Would he say his dream is now a reality, or would he feel his lofty goals have become a dream deferred?

Science, Race, and Human Behavior

1:30-2:45 p.m. in Alvarez College Union Room 313

Jon Marks, professor of sociology & anthropology at UNC Charlotte, will present a look at the evidence surrounding claims that members of a particular race naturally have different potentials. He will demonstrate that actual patterns of human biological variation do not map easily onto races, nor on to patterns of human behavioral variation, and look at the sources of claims that there is a conspiracy of silence to suppress the dissemination of this information.

From No Rights to Civil Rights: Untold Stories of Town & Gown Relations in Davidson

3 p.m. in Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room

Jan Blodgett, Davidson College archivist, will facilitate a symposium focusing on the relationship between the Town of Davidson and Davidson College. Community leaders, alumni, faculty, staff and students will share stories of community struggles and successes. The session will consider how Davidson College can continue to work toward equity and social justice both on and off-campus.

MLK Gospel Extravaganza

7 p.m. in Duke Family Performance Hall

The program will feature musical offerings from Joint Heir of Statesville, the Greater Life Ministries Praise Team from Rock Hill, the Gethsemane Baptist Men’s Choir of Davidson, The Gethsemane Gospel Singers of Davidson and special guests Ronica & The Mighty Blazing Stars of Mooresville.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22

A Documentary: “Shock Value: Why Are We Surprised?”

8:30-9:30 p.m. Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room

This short student-directed and -produced documentary film interviews people in the college community concerning racial injustice locally and nationwide. It asks why we quietly tolerate everyday injustices, but rally to protest larger scale ones? With all of the injustices that go on every day within our community, why are we surprised when one makes it to a national level? The film showing will be followed by small group discussion.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Convocation

7 p.m. in Duke Family Performance Hall

Civil rights leader, history professor, attorney and journalist Roger Wilkins will speak. Wilkins is best known for his role as part of the 1972 Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Washington Post reporters and editors who exposed the Watergate scandal.

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Posted By: Bill Giduz