El-Kati Distinguished Lectureship in American Studies

St. Paul, Minn. – The El-Kati Distinguished Lectureship in American Studies with the theme  “Transgressing Boundaries & Black Identities,” presents two talks this year.  University of Chicago Prof. Cathy Cohen will present, A Post Election Discussion on Nov. 8, and Duke University Prof. Mark Anthony Neal will present, A Discussion on a New Vision of Black Masculinity on Nov. 9, both at Macalester College.

On Thursday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m., University of Chicago Prof. Cathy Cohen will talk about “Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics.” Cohen, the David and Mary Winton Green Professor of Political Science, is the author of two books: Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics and The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics.

On Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., Duke University Prof. Mark Anthony Neal will talk about “Looking for Leroy: (IL)Legible Black Masculinities.” Neal is professor of Black Popular Culture in the Department of African and African-American Studies, where he won the 2010 Robert B. Cox Award for Teaching. He is the author of four books.

The El-Kati Distinguished Lectureship was established by Dr. Stanley M. Berry, M.D. ’75, Bertram M. Days ’74 and Ava B. Days to honor Professor Mahmoud El-Kati’s career as a lecturer, writer and commentator on the African American experience.

From 1970 to 2003, El-Kati taught many generations of Macalester students in courses such as “The Black Experience Since World War II,” and “Sports and the African American Community.” He was also a champion for increasing the diversity of the student body and for making multiculturalism central to the college’s curriculum. As a faculty member he conveyed the importance of giving back to local communities while paying serious attention to African American history.

The talks are free and open to the public. They are in the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Book signings will follow both lectures. Call 651-696-6410 for more information.

Macalester College, founded in 1874, is a national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 2,035 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism, and civic engagement. Learn more at macalester.edu