Feminist author highlighting North Central's MLK Week
A "Bad Feminist" who speaks on race and culture and teaches creative writing at Purdue University is coming to North Central College on Tuesday as keynote speaker of the school's Martin Luther King Jr. Week.
Roxane Gay, an author and cultural critic whose books include the collection of essays "Bad Feminist," the novel "An Untamed State" and her most recent work "Difficult Women," is set to speak at 7 p.m. in Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center.
After a divisive election that brought out racial and gender tensions, North Central leaders say Gay's experiences as a black woman of Haitian descent and her expertise in feminism will make her a powerful and fitting presenter.
"People really connect with her writing," said Dorothy Pleas, North Central's director of multicultural affairs.
"She's really unapologetic," said student Upasna Barath, a Downers Grove native and sophomore majoring in economics. "She actually puts her opinion out there and she intertwines that with her experiences."
Barath said she and her peers are looking forward to the speech because so many of Gay's writings target young people just like themselves. Hearing from the professor, author and cultural commentator will help students put national events in a fresh perspective.
"It's just a way of understanding culture and understanding a community, and also giving honor to Martin Luther King and what he fought for," Barath said.
North Central hosts a series of events each year around Martin Luther King Jr. Day to commemorate a speech King made at the school in 1960.
Recent speakers have included Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement; Cornel West, an author, academic and civil rights activist; and hip-hop artist Common.
The theme of this year's week is "The Power of Our Stories," another reason a writer and storyteller is a perfect highlight speaker, Pleas said.
The school will host its first "Diversity Monologues" show during the week, giving students of various backgrounds the chance to perform short pieces about their experiences as Americans, written to the prompt "A letter to my country …"
"Hopefully (the week) brings the community back together by sharing stories about diverse experiences," Pleas said.
Barath, a practicing Hindu of Indian descent, said the topic of life as a diverse student is something she's written about for the online magazine for girls, Rookie, and something she sees as a valuable starting point to build understanding.
During MLK week, Barath, who is involved in the North Central multicultural and social justice club Mosaic, is hosting a showing of the documentary "13th: From Slave to Criminal with One Amendment." The film, released last year, explains the complex racial history of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which outlawed slavery.
Tickets to Gay's speech are $5 at the door or in advance by calling (630) 637-7469 or visiting northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.
If you go
What: Martin Luther King Jr. Week Keynote address by Roxane Gay
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17
Where: Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Cost: $5
Info: (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix