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Jake Blount: Exploring the Power of Music, Afrofuturism, and Social Change
In a recent presentation that beautifully blended art, history, and activism, musician and scholar Jake Blount unveiled music’s profound capacity to envision a brighter future. With narrative and insight, Blount shared his creative process, underscoring the interplay between tradition and innovation, the transformative power of Afrofuturism, and the art of reimagining music for contemporary issues. […]
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Saving the Soul of America from White Christian Nationalism
The social and political divide in America is starkly apparent as we head into another heated presidential race. For theologian and social activist Father Bryan Massingale, his research on race, sexuality, and society could not be timelier as the country grapples with increasing acts of violence against minority groups. Father Massingale, a Black, openly gay […]
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Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural Address
On March 4th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. He considered it his greatest speech and best effort. Join Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss and best-selling Lincoln biographer Dr. Ronald C. White for a fascinating look at the Second Inaugural Address. Through a powerful, fascinating voyage of discovery, one comes away with […]
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The Uplifting Performance of “Still We Rise”
When UC San Diego music professor emeritus Cecil Lytle plays the piano, you can’t help but pay attention. His commanding figure is a sharp contrast to his elegance and poise. He’s been called a renaissance man for his innovative work, which is on display in his latest concert “Still We Rise.” The program features music […]
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Gifts of Stories
The biannual Faculty Research Lecture at UCLA has presented the work of the university’s most distinguished scholars since 1925. Its purpose is to recognize their superb achievements, and give the campus and the greater community an opportunity to gain a new perspective on scholarly achievements and the viewpoints of the faculty honored. UCLA History Professor […]
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Understanding the African American Freedom Struggle
The Greensboro sit-in was a seminal moment in the Civil Rights movement. Four young black men, students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, sat down at a segregated lunch counter and refused to leave. Their protest sparked a wave of sit-ins around the country. Building on the momentum, students at nearby Shaw University, formed […]
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Pivotal Events
In the early hours of April 20, 1989, 28-year-old jogger Trisha Meili was assaulted and left for dead in Central Park. The ensuing media frenzy instigated a public outcry for swift justice. Within days of the attack five African-American teenagers implicated themselves, after hours of psychological pressure and aggressive interrogation. The teens were tried as […]