Department of Theatre & Dance, Africana Studies to present ‘The Role of the Arts in Times of Crisis’ guest lecture

The Department of Theatre & Dance and the Africana Studies program in the College of Liberal Arts will present “Citizen Artists: Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin & the Role of the Arts in Times of Crisis” on Wednesday, April 12, in the 2550 Mell Classroom Building.

Dr. Soyica Diggs Colbert, vice president for interdisciplinary initiatives and Idol Family Professor of African American Studies and Performing Arts at Georgetown University, and author of “Radical Vision: A Biography of Lorraine Hansberry” joins Dr. Ernest Gibson, director of Africana Studies and professor of English at Auburn University and author of “Salvific Manhood: James Baldwin's Novelization of Male Intimacy” for a conversation considering Hansberry and Baldwin and their works as well as the role of art in times of crisis and the role of the artist and critic today.

The conversation will be moderated by Auburn Theatre and Dance Professor Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha. The guest lecture was made possible by the Department of Theatre & Dance’s Department Excellence Award and collaboration with the Africana Studies program.

“Citizen Artists: Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin & the Role of the Arts in Times of Crisis” will be held Wednesday, April 12, in 2550 Mell from 5-6:15 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.