Cornel West to speak during MLK activities at North Central
Author, academic and civil rights activist Cornel West will be the keynote speaker Jan. 23 during Martin Luther King Jr. Week activities at Naperville's North Central College.
Each year, North Central honors and remembers King with a keynote presentation, musical tributes, a prayer breakfast and activities. This year's theme is "A Journey Defined." King spoke in North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall in 1960.
West, who appeared as the college's 2010 MLK Week keynote speaker, will deliver his address at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. He will speak to the legacy of King, other revolutionary African-American leaders and young people's responsibility for social change. A question-and-answer session follows.
Tickets are $10. Admission is free for North Central students, faculty and staff who have registered online in advance. To buy tickets or register for free admission, call the box office at (630) 637-7469 or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.
West is a professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and professor emeritus at Princeton University, where he earned his Ph.D. in philosophy. He also has taught at Yale, Harvard and the University of Paris.
West burst onto the national scene in 1993 with his best-seller "Race Matters," which analyzes racism in American democracy. He has edited 13 books and written 20, including "Black Prophetic Fire," published in October with critical acclaim. Due on bookshelves Jan. 13 is "The Radical King," a collection of inspirational speeches, sermons and writings by King and edited by West.
West made his film debut in "The Matrix" and has appeared in more than 25 documentaries and films, including "Examined Life," "Sidewalk" and "Stand." He has collaborated with Prince, Andre 3000 and other major artists to create three spoken-word albums. His spoken-word interludes have premiered in numerous albums, including Raheem DeVaughn's Grammy-nominated "Love & War: Masterpeace."
A prominent voice in the political landscape, West was a radio co-host with Tavis Smiley and is a frequent guest on "Real Time with Bill Maher," "The Colbert Report," Fox News, CNN, Democracy Now! and C-SPAN.
In addition to the keynote address, this year's MLK Week celebration includes the Chicago Sinfonietta performance of its "Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," a tribute to the civil rights leader and his dream for a new generation by featuring today's youth in a powerful show. The performance begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, in North Central's Wentz Concert Hall. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix for tickets.
North Central's annual MLK Prayer Breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, and features a message by 2006 North Central alumna Shawndra Brown Lucas. A professional mentor, she directs a multicampus college ministry and social-emotional learning and mentoring program for high school students.
And on Saturday, Jan. 24, the college will host its 27th annual Gospel Extravaganza with performances by gospel choirs from area schools as well as North Central's own Voices of Praise gospel choir. The concert begins at 7 p.m. in Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix for tickets.