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Leading expert in political movements to speak

17-Jan-08

FREDERICK, Md.--A leading expert in the history of independent political movements will speak at Hood College as part of the College's celebration of the life of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Omar Ali, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Towson University, will speak about King's moral and political vision of an inclusive and democratic society in a lecture entitled "Dr. King's Civic Practice: Building Inclusive Communities in a Divisive World." The lecture, which will be held Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Whitaker Campus Center's Commons Room, will also highlight the role African-Americans and other minorities have played in making some of the most sweeping changes in the United States--abolishing slavery, extending the voting rights to African-Americans and the protection of civil rights for all citizens--and the movements that have helped to advance democratic inclusion over divisive partisan politics in the United States.

The lecture will be preceded by a performance by award-winning artists David Ross and Femi Lawal of the 5th L performance group. The presentation, "Spoken Word," consists of poetry and theater with a touch of hip-hop flavor.

Ali is the director of research and education at the Committee for a Unified Independent Party, a national think-tank and strategy center for independent politics and election reform. He is the author of "Black Populism in the New South" and is a contributing author to "History in Dispute: American social and Political Movements, 1945-2000." Ali's research and analysis of new voting trends and realignments in politics has been published in numerous books, articles and essays. He has spoken at college campuses nationwide regarding the growth of independent politics and has served as a district leader for the Independence Party of New York. Ali graduated from the London School of Economics and earned a doctoral degree from Columbia University.

For more information about this event, contact Kiran Chadda, Ph.D., director of multicultural affairs and international student programs, by calling (301) 696-3799 or by e-mail at kchadda@hood.edu, or visit Hood's Web site at www.hood.edu.