Event description

About The William C. Powers, Jr. Speaker Series

The Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at The University of Texas at Austin presents a keynote lecture and conversation series honoring the legacy of former UT President William C. Powers, Jr. This series invites thought leaders to share research on American politics and public policy, reflecting his dedication to civic engagement.

Feature Speaker:

Malcolm X at 100: Legacy, Liberation, and the Power of Culture

As we mark the centennial of Malcolm X’s birth, renowned educator, poet, and author Dr. Michael Simanga joins the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at The University of Texas at Austin for a powerful conversation on Malcolm X’s enduring legacy. A professor of Africana Studies at Morehouse College and Co-Editor in Chief of The Black Scholar, Dr. Simanga has dedicated his work to examining the intersections of Black culture, politics, and resistance.

Through the lens of his own scholarship—including Amiri Baraka and the Congress of African People and In the Shadow of the Son—Dr. Simanga will explore Malcolm X’s influence on contemporary struggles for justice, the role of art in political transformation, and the lessons his life offers for today’s movements. Dr. Peniel Joseph, director of CSRD, will moderate this timely and thought-provoking discussion.