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African American author Bakari Kitwana will discuss hip-hop’s evolution from a cultural to political movement at a brown bag lecture 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in room 108 of the Williams Center for the Arts. He also will deliver the keynote address for Black History Month at 7:30 p.m. in Colton Chapel.
Both events are free and open to the public.
“Kitwana will help clear up misconceptions regarding hip-hop by speaking about its evolution,” says Jadrien Ellison ‘02, intercultural development coordinator. “The goal of Black History Month is to send out hip-hop’s true meaning, and our keynote speaker is helping us reach this goal.”
Kitwana, author of The Rap on Gangsta Rap and The Hip-Hop Generation, was a longtime editor for the popular hip-hop music magazine The Source. His work has appeared in The Source, The Village Voice, The Progressive, and on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” He regularly gives lectures on how to translate hip-hop’s commercial success into political power and organize the “hop-hop voting bloc.” He also discusses hip-hop’s evolution, activism in the hip-hop generation, the war of the sexes, and other topics.
Lafayette’s celebration of Black History Month includes a full calendar of concerts, lectures, interactive workshops, cultural presentations, and other events, as notable artists and scholars join students and faculty to honor the diversity, unity, and history that is the African American experience.