"Martin Luther King in the Age of Obama"

The African American Studies Department at UMD hosts a discussion that explores the efforts that made the MLK National Memorial a reality.

TheAfrican American Studies Departmentat the University of Maryland hosts a discussion“Martin Luther King in the Age of Obama”that will explore the efforts that made theMartin Luther King National Memoriala reality, the role organizations play in social movements, and the unfinished business of the civil rights era in an age where we also have an African American President.

The program will include statements from our distin-guished panelists :

Dr. Waldo Johnson, Jr. is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. Johnson is also past chairmen of the Alpha Phi Alpha Educational Foundation. A family research scholar, his substantive research focuses on male roles and involvement in African American families, nonresident fathers in fragile families, and the physical and psychosocial health statuses of African American males.

Mr. LeRoy Lowery is the President of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in Washington, DC. Lowery was part of the leadership of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation and has served as it’s vice-president and chief operating officer from January 2002 through August 2004. He has held leadership positions at the chap-ter, regional, and national levels.

Dr. Rashawn Ray is an Assistant Professor of Sociology (UMD). Ray is the editor of the recently published Race and Ethnic Relations in the Twenty-First Century: History, Theory, Institutions, and Policy. This book examines the major theoretical and empirical approaches regarding race/ethnicity.

The event will be moderated by Dr. David Taft Terry, Ph.D. Terry is the Executive Director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

The program will focus on the nation's first African American President, unfinished business of the civil rights agenda, and the Great Recession provide the context for this discussion of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial. Our panel is composed of individuals that led the effort to make the monument a reality, and scholars whose work provides a deeper understanding of social problems and possible solutions.

The program will include statements from our distinguished panelists, a moderated discussion, and questions from our audience and conclude with light refreshments.

The event is free and open to the University of Maryland campus community and the general public.For further information please visithttp://www.bsos.umd.edu/aasp/or contact Marci Deloatch atmdeloatc@umd.eduor301-405-4470.

This program is sponsored by the African American Studies Department and co-sponsored by Iota Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., University of Maryland.