(January 30, 2014) Jackson, Tenn.- Union University’s Town and Gown Lecture series begins again tonight.
The Town and Gown series lets community members interested in the topics attend lectures and participate in discussions in a classroom setting, that is free and open to the public.
The subject for this lecture series: Christian Perspectives on Education, Race, and Justice.
The Thursday evening program, which runs through Black History Month, will look at race, education, and justice from an African-American perspective and a Christian worldview.
Jacqueline S. Taylor, assistant dean of students, will be the discussion leader and course convener. Taylor said that, "I wanted to ensure that the open dialogue continued as a part of our efforts over the past several years to address issues of racial reconciliation through (a) Christian worldview.”
She continued, “This Town and Gown series is a great opportunity to engage students and the community in meaningful dialogue toward Great Commandment thinking and action."
The sessions will be held in Providence Hall from 6PM-10PM in Room 160.
The first of the 5 sessions begins tonight. It will open with an introduction from Taylor. After that, the lecture for the evening will be given by Roland Porter, pastor of Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Jackson. His lecture is titled, “Legal Context: Education, Race and Justice.”
On February 6, Rhonda Hudson, professor of Social work, will present “A Social Context: Carter G. Woodson’s Legacy.” That same evening, guests will hear from Taylor on her topic, “Historical and Philosophical Context: The Legacies of W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington.”
Jarvis Williams, associate professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will speak on “Theological Context: The Theology of Reconciliation,” on February 13.
February 20 sees Sephira Shuttlesworth, wife of the late civil rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth, speak on “Ethical Context Concerning Education, Race and Justice” and “Legacy of the City of Birmingham and its Role in Education, Race and Justice.”
The series concludes on February 25 with Frank Anderson, professor of urban theology, presenting “Culminating Discussion on Education, Race and Justice: The Impact of the Church” and “The Legacy of the City of Memphis and its Role in Education, Race and Justice.”
