Civil Rights Lecture Raises Awareness

On Feb. 10, Dr. Komozi Woodard and Dr. Jeanne Theoharis led a civil rights lecture in the Technology Building, which was open to all students. Some of the many topics discussed ranged from the sources of inspiration for history's civil rights leaders to how racism is still prevalent in the United States today.

 "Black History Month is a month where we have a lot of celebration about the civil rights movement," said Theoharis, after describing some of the many accomplishments of great civil right's activists.

Woodard delved into the issues of inner city gentrification and how it affects children inhabiting those areas. "New York City has a segregated school system; black children are going to bad schools, Latino children are going to bad schools, and white kids are going to much better schools," stated Woodard.

He further went to say that the south was not the only region in the United States with racism issues, but that the North contributed to those issues and still do to this day.

Dr. Woodard and Dr. Theoharis have been involved in the civil rights movement for most of their lives. Woodard was inspired to join the civil rights movement in high school due to the harsh mistreatment of an African American woman named Fannie Lou Hamer.

Throughout Dr. Theoharis' life, she has always been interested in African American studies. At Harvard University, Theoharis majored in African American Studies. Upon leaving Harvard, Theoharis taught African American Studies at high schools in Boston and Los Angeles.

 The discussion appeared to have a large impact on students.  Sophomore Christian Dougherty said, "I was truly amazed when I attended the panel discussion about civil rights. I thought I fully understood civil rights before I attended, but I can honestly say I learned things about civil rights that I did not know about. I feel more students should take advantage of these discussions held on campus."