One of the most prominent figures in the civil rights movement and race relations will address Ball State University tonight about society during the post-movement era.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson will speak at 7 p.m. in Emens Auditorium as part of the Excellence in Leadership speaker series.
Jackson's speech, titled "How Are We Living the Legacy?", will ask whether society is living up to the legacy left by the Civil Rights Movement.
Mitch Isaacs, associate director of student life, said having Jackson speak at Ball State during Black History Month as part of the series is a great opportunity for students and faculty.
Jackson's speech is a chance for students and faculty to be part of the discussion with someone who has been a significant part of history, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and being the first serious African-American presidential candidate, Isaacs said. Jackson is an icon and in a unique position to speak about civil rights issues, he said.
Black Student Association advisor Tiffany Washington said she hopes Jackson's speech will address whether issues brought up during the Civil Rights Movement are being implemented in 2010.
"I think [Jackson is] a very prominent African-American speaker on campus that has political views that have been challenged," she said. "It opens up conversations about diversity and multiculturalism."
Isaacs said examining how Americans have reacted after the Civil Rights Movement is important for everyone to discuss.
"[The civil rights movement] wasn't just about African-Americans, it wasn't just about the youth; it wasn't just about the power, it was about the whole nation," he said. "It's an important question for everyone because we are impacted by the civil rights movement even to this day."
Isaacs hopes Jackson's speech will be a starting point for open discussions about diversity on campus.
"[Jackson] is a person with strong feelings," he said. "Whether people agree with him or not, they'll have a conversation about the Civil Rights Movement and make up their own mind."
If there is enough time left after Jackson's speech, there will be a Q-and-A portion, Isaacs said.
Washington said it will be an opportunity for students to express their points of view.
"If students want to challenge [Jackson's views] then it's a great opportunity to go directly to the source and share [their] views," she said. "If [students] support him, they can go there to show their support."
The event is free and starts at 7 p.m. in Emens. Only a university closing or travel emergency will cancel the event, Isaacs said.
"I encourage students, regardless of how they feel and their opinions, to use what happens [tonight] as a conversation," Isaacs said. "Even if it's not in a classroom, I hope they come and talk about how they feel about what was said and they examine race and diversity."
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