News & Events

Talk by Author and Artist damali ayo to Highlight Martin Luther King Jr. Week at UNC Asheville

January 5, 2012

“Are You Ready to Fix Racism? (or are you still pretending it doesn’t exist?),” a presentation by damali ayo, will highlight a series of events at UNC Asheville to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Week. Her talk begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

A writer, artist, and speaker, ayo focuses on community building and has won plaudits for her talks at many campuses. Through an interactive process, she leads audiences in developing multi-step programs to improve relationships within a community.

She is author of “How to Rent a Negro,” (Lawrence Hill Books, 2005), which garnered Honorable Mention in the Outstanding Book Awards from the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. “Living Flag: Panhandling for Reparations,” ayo’s radio story, won a Silver Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

Other special events during Martin Luther King Jr. Week at UNC Asheville include:

• SNCC Panel Discussion – Isaac Coleman and Carol Rogoff – one black, one white, and both members of SNCC (the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) – will discuss their roles in this key civil rights organization; 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in Highsmith University Union room 224.
• Documentary Films – “Iron Women of Liberia,” 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, and “Whatever it Takes,” 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in Highsmith University Union room 143. Both will be screened in Highsmith University Union room 143.

These events are free and open to the public, and are co-sponsored by many UNC Asheville offices and programs, including Cultural Events and Special Academic Programs, the Intercultural Center, Office of Multicultural Student Programs, the Center for Diversity Education, Africana Studies Program, Department of Education, and Teaching Fellows Program.

An ASL interpreter will be provided at ayo’s presentation. Individuals requiring other accessibility accommodations and/or childcare should call 828.251.6674 or email cultural@unca.edu at least a week in advance. For more information about other Martin Luther King Jr. Week activities at UNC Asheville, please contact Lamar Hylton, director of Multicultural Student Programs, at 828.251.6585.