Black History Month Keynote: Eddie Glaude Jr. to speak on the ethics of anti-racism

LAWRENCE — The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging will welcome an author and distinguished professor from Princeton University for a Black History Month event at the University of Kansas.

Eddie Glaude Jr., a noted scholar and political analyst, will present "The Ethics of Anti-Racism" at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Kansas Union Ballroom. The event will also be livestreamed.

Glaude's work examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including "Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul," "In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America," and his most recent, the New York Times bestseller "Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own," take a comprehensive look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges Americans face as a democracy.

Glaude challenges his audiences to engage in a continuous critique of racism’s forms and urges them to think more carefully and analytically about racial issues. His approach necessitates a moral and ethical reckoning, in contrast to a quick fix” of simply crossing action items off a list. During his talk, Glaude will guide the audience through the deconstruction of whiteness and the way in which it determines the distribution of advantages and disadvantages in society.

"Dr. Glaude is a prolific scholar and public intellectual whose insights are reshaping how we talk about race, racism and systemic inequity in the United States. Dr. Glaude's frank analysis offers prescriptive solutions that force us to reconcile just how much more work needs to be done to facilitate sustainable change in academia that addresses racial injustice in material ways," said Nicole Hodges Persley, interim vice provost for diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging.

More information is available on the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging’s website. Anyone in need of accommodations to attend this event should reach out to Mytrice Allen, events and engagement coordinator, at mytriceallen@ku.edu.