Jan. 24 MLK Day event to feature Haki R. Madhubuti
Released: December 22, 2006
Haki R. Madhubuti
A much sought-after poet and lecturer, Haki R. Madhubuti serves as a pivotal figure in the development of a strong Black literary tradition. Madhubuti will bring his expertise and knowledge to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as the keynote speaker for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Event held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24. The event will be held in the Light Recital Hall and is free and open to the public.
"We are very excited to have Madhubuti speak, as he is a nationally recognized person in our region," UW-Whitewater McNair Scholar Program Director Richard McGregory said.
Madhubuti emerged in the Civil Rights era of the sixties and continues his work as a poet, publisher, editor and educator today. Over the years, he has published more than 27 books, including "Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: The African American Family in Transition" and "Claiming Earth: Race, Rage, Rape, Redemption." His latest release is "YellowBlack," a memoir of the people and places that were a part of his early life.
"This event will serve as the premier human relations event on campus," McGregory said. "It will be a demonstration of UW-Whitewater's commitment to people of different backgrounds and being able to work together academically and professionally."
An award-winning poet, Madhubuti is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships and Illinois Arts Council Award. As a proponent of independent Black institutions, Madhubuti is the founder, publisher and chairman of the board of Third World Press (1967). He is also a founder and board member of the National Association of Black Book Publishers, founder and chairman of the board of The International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, and founder and director of the National Black Writers Retreat.
"The hope is to have people leave the commemorative event with a better understanding of people with various backgrounds and to encourage everyone to work together," McGregory said.
The 21st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Event is sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Event Planning Committee and the Office of the Chancellor.
For more information on the event, please contact Richard McGregory at (262) 472-2804 or mcgregor@uww.edu.- Patti Schenker,schenkerpl07@uww.edu
