Cross-Racial Dialogue Opens Black History Month Series
A former U.S. congressman and a former congressional staffer will lead a cross-racial dialogue about race relations in the twenty-first century South to open Black History Month at Converse College. The event is Feb. 8 at 7 pm in Hartness Auditorium. Dr. Glenn Browder and Dr. Artemesia Stanberry will each offer their perspective on race relations in the today’s South, and they will also open the floor for audience comment and questions. “Dr. Stanberry and I combine both academic and political experience in our presentations; and we are probably the only biracial team pitching biracial progress in the country,” says Browder. The event, which is co-sponsored by the department of history and politics and the office of the chaplain at Converse, is free and open to the public.
Dr. Glen Browder, former Democratic representative from Alabama and Dr. Artemesia Stanberry, assistant professor of political science at North Carolina Central University are co-authors of the book Stealth Reconstruction: The Untold Story of Southern Politics and History. Before entering academia, Dr. Stanberry worked for several members of Congress. Dr. Browder is professor emeritus of American democracy at Jacksonville State University in Alabama.
Stealth Reconstruction explores the untold story of biracial politics during the civil rights movement. Stanberry and Browder show that even as some African Americans courageously confronted segregation in marches and sit-ins and some whites opposed segregation with threats and violence, a substantial number of black and white leaders throughout the South engaged in quiet, behind-the-scenes work for racial justice.
Stanberry and Browder will participate in a book signing at Hub City Book Shop from 5-6 pm on Feb. 8.
The event is the first in a series commemorating Black History Month at Converse. On Feb. 14, at 7 pm in Lever Auditorium, the award-winning documentary film The Anatomy of Hate: A Dialogue of Hope will be screened with filmmaker Mike Ramsdell leading an audience discussion after the film. Writer and performer Ronald Daise will present a program of readings, songs and photographs on Feb. 22 at 7:30 pm in Hartness Auditorium. Daise is the author of Gullah Branches, West African Roots, and he starred in the Nickelodeon network television show Gullah Gullah Island. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information call (864) 596-9104 or (864) 596-9078.
