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| Prof. Houston Baker聽presents "Black Citizenship, Public Intellectuals and the New Presidency" on Sept. 17.聽聽 |
When Dr. Houston Baker, distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University and expert in African American literature, kicks off the English Department's Distinguished Speakers series later this month, Anthony Stewart will certainly be in attendance.
Dr. Stewart, associate professor of English at AV俱乐部, says he expects Baker鈥檚 lecture 鈥淏lack Citizenship, Public Intellectuals and the New Presidency鈥� to be 鈥渉ighly entertaining.鈥� Dr. Stewart, who has seen Baker speak before and his quite familiar with his writing, admires Baker鈥檚 ability to motivate his audience to consider issues from unique perspectives.
鈥淗e always brings you something that you haven鈥檛 considered before,鈥� he says. 鈥淗e is courageous in so far as his ability and willingness to take on issues in ways that are surprising and not what you would expect.鈥�
Dr. Stewart cites the example of the controversial arrest of an African American academic, Henry Gates, by a white police officer this summer in the United States as an issue that he expects Baker will discuss. Dr. Stewart says he expects Baker will be somewhat critical of President Obama鈥檚 subsequent intervention in the matter.
鈥淓veryone knows why Professor Gates was arrested,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he fact of the matter is he was arrested because he is black.鈥�
Even though Dr. Stewart is eager to hear Baker鈥檚 take on the incident, he notes that Baker will not necessarily rush to Gates鈥� defence. 鈥淏aker is actually quite critical of Gates,鈥� he聽says. 鈥淏aker in general is pretty critical of how black intellectuals have betrayed the civil rights movement,鈥� he added.
Regardless of the lecture鈥檚 subject matter, Dr. Stewart still expects Baker鈥檚 visit will be a boost for AV俱乐部. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled and quite frankly a little but surprised that we were able to get him here," he says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 on the cutting edge of thinking about race in America and he鈥檒l have a great deal to contribute to how we think about race here in Canada as well.鈥�
Dr. Baker鈥檚 lecture takes place on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Scotiabank auditorium in the Marion McCain Building. All students and faculty are encouraged to attend.