Prof leads talk on blacks in U.S.

African-American Studies Adjunct Professor Eric King spoke Monday about Martin Luther King and issues pertaining to blacks in America. King, who is also an assistant dean for college advising at the University, lectured to a group of 20 on Dr. King for two and a half hours at the Christian Association. The talk encompassed the era surrounding the civil rights leader's life and the effect of the movement he led on present-day America as well as on other nations. Although the talk began as basic history of King, the majority of the lecture discussed the issues which he had to confront as well as the issues Americans must adhere to today. The talk discussed the bus boycotts and marches of the 1950s and 1960s and the issues of economic status and affirmative action of today as they pertain to blacks as well as to other minorities. Besides quoting Dr. King, King also quoted such renowned black authors and orators as Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and Booker T. Washington, and cited several books including Martin and Malcolm and America by James Cone. The audience also spent a half hour viewing the British documentary of Dr. King and the movement, The Dream on Hold. King touched on the relationship between violent and non-violent resistance to oppression, the debate about integration, de-segregation and segregation, the conflict between democracy and black nationalism and the ideas of morality and constitutionalism as they pertain to civil rights. He also discussed how the American Civil Rights movement of the mid-20th century has been an example to movements such as the revolt in Tienanmen Square and the resistance in South Africa. "We are a long way from what King envisioned," said King, adding that although most of the fight for civil rights is being realized, there is much to be done in the area of economic equality and opportunity. He also discussed the importance of keeping the youth of today conscious of the efforts and progressions of yesterday. Ruth Anne Church, a first year graduate student in fine arts, enjoyed the discussion and found the talk enlightening. "I was impressed by how much courage was shown by the people who participated in the protest movements of the 1960s," Church said.

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