UIS Speaker Series explores "The Charleston Massacre & the History of Racial Violence in America"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore “The Charleston Massacre and the History of Racial Violence in America” during a panel discussion.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: This event will bring together a panel of experts to explore the historical, social and political lineage that nurtures the current racist culture and climate that enabled the Charleston shootings. This event was inspired by the project #CharlestonSyllabus, the creation of Chad Williams, professor of African American Studies at Brandeis University.

Williams will join in the panel discussion, along with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign associate professor Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua and Loyola University of New Orleans assistant professor Ashley Howard. The discussion will be moderated by UIS assistant professor Ty Dooley.

The panel discussion will engage the audience in examining the complexities of race relations in America, help them identify how the long history of racial violence contributed to the Charleston shootings, teach them about the convergence of factors and conditions over time that resulted in the current racial climate in the U.S., and help them understand their role as citizens in addressing racial intolerance in their communities.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.