Originally published January 25, 2011 at 7:39 p.m., updated January 25, 2011 at 7:39 p.m.
Students and faculty gathered on the sixth floor of the Kansas Union Tuesday evening to hear Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield, assistant professor of sociology at Georgia State University, speak about her new book, “Yes We Can?: White Racial Framing and the 2008 Presidential Campaign.”
The event was organized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in an effort to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Wingfield teaches classes on ideas such as race, gender, work and social theory at Georgia State University, according to www2.gsu.edu.
“We saw her speak at a conference this summer; she was a really phenomenal speaker and we enjoyed her topic,” Precious Porras, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs said.
Wingfield traveled with President Obama during his campaign trail to research her book using first-hand observation. Porras feels as though there is much to be learned about race in America today.
“I think we’ve come very far, but we still have far to go,” Porras said. “It’s an opportunity to remind students that we need to be active and aware so we can move further and beyond.”
Dr. William Staples, professor and department chair of the sociology department, feels that race and politics are a continuous issue on the world stage.
“Debates about public policy and how the world is organized continue to revolve around issues about race,” Staples said.
Porras said Wingfield’s speech is the starting point of the Office of Multicultural Affair’s Preemptive Action campaign during Black History Month, which she hopes will turn into a year long campaign if it is successful.
“People look at [Martin Luther King, Jr. Day] as a day off,” Porras said. “You should be aware of the events around you every day.”
Porras feels that the University of Kansas is an accepting community, and does not limit awareness to solely issues of race.
“I would say that overall KU is an inclusive community,” Porras said. “If you have your own dream, what are you doing to make that dream happen?”
— Edited by Becca Harsch
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