Celebrating Black History Awareness Month

Cal State East Bay will host writer, professor and advocate Melissa Harris-Perry on Thursday, Feb. 25 in celebration of Black History Awareness Month. 

For nearly two decades, Harris-Perry has contributed scholarly analysis and insight to discussions of race, gender, politics and power. She currently teaches courses on American politics and elections with a focus on the intersections of race, place and gender, and serves as the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Harris-Perry is also the editor-at-large for the Medium publication ZORA, which aims to amplify the voices of women of color. Her work has also been featured in the "Wall Street Journal," the "New York Times" and the "Chicago Tribune." 

Her book “Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America” examines the most persistent stereotypes that Black women face in America. Using multiple methods of inquiry including literary analysis, focus groups and research, Harris-Perry explains how Black women understand themselves as citizens and what they expect from political organizing. 

The Feb. 25 event is scheduled for 12:15-1:15 on Zoom and registration is available through the Diversity and Inclusion Student Center website.