2/1/05 Contact: Roy Summerford, 334/844-9999 (summero@auburn.edu)
David M. Granger, 334/844-9999 (grangdm@auburn.edu)

CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY TO LEAD LIST OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPEAKERS AT AU

AUBURN – Auburn University will host speakers each week in February for public lectures in connection with Black History Month.

In the first presentation, Tuskegee attorney Fred Gray, a leading figure of the civil rights era, will speak on “Continuing to Dream,” an examination of the legacy of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. Gray, who represented Rosa Parks during the Montgomery bus boycott and later served as president of the Alabama Bar Association, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in the Foy Student Union ballroom.

On Feb. 9, archivist Craig Lloyd will discuss the emergence of the black middle class in Columbus, Ga. Lloyd, who will speak at noon in Foy 213, is professor emeritus of history at Columbus State University. He will also show the documentary “Lift Every Voice: Columbus’ African American Heritage, 1870-1970.”

Franzine Taylor of the Alabama Department of Archives and History will discuss “Researching African American Genealogy” at 3 p.m., Feb. 15, in the Archives and Special Collections Room of Draughon Library.

Author Fred Gaillard will discuss his latest book, “Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement that Changed America.” Gaillard will speak on Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. in Foy 217. His book presents personal accounts of participants in major events of the civil rights era such as the freedom rides, Birmingham demonstrations and Selma-to-Montgomery march.

On Feb. 24, Angela Lakwete, an assistant professor of history at AU, will discuss her recent book, “Inventing the Cotton Gin: Machine and Myth in Antebellum America,” at 7 p.m. in Foy Union. Lakwete’s book challenges some common conceptions of industrial development and social structure of the South in the decades before the Civil War.

Lecture sponsors, which vary by event, include AU’s Center for Diversity and Race Relations, Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, AU Outreach, Center for the Arts and Humanities, University Archives, Pre-Law Scholars Program, Black Student Union and College of Liberal Arts.

Also, the BSU and the NAACP will host events ranging from discussion groups to motion picture screenings. For other Black History Month events, see the web site http://web6.duc.auburn.edu/administration/center_diversity_race_relations/events/blackhistorymonth.pdf

Auburn University is a pre-eminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with nearly 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama’s largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

(Contributed by Roy Summerford.)

# # #

feb05:AU-blackhistory