Location: Department digital archives
Object: Photo (January 2016)
Observations: 1) Ten years ago, on January 27, 2016, the English Department participated in the A&S Civil Rights Teach-In. In the photo, Cameron Leader-Picone shares his expertise on “hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar and key issues in black politics and cultural movements,” as that year’s flyer advertised. Lisa Tatonetti also contributed alongside colleagues from other departments and programs across the university.
2) In 2016, the Civil Rights Teach-In was in its second year. Since its founding in 2015, this annual event — organized by Dr. Kimathi Choma in the College of Arts and Sciences — takes its inspiration from the work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King spoke at K-State on January 19, 1968 on “The Future of Integration,” just a few months before his assassination. (An audio recording of the lecture surfaced in 2011, thanks to a community member in Wichita, and it now resides in Special Collections at Hale Library.) 3) Scheduled near the national holiday commemorating Dr. King, the annual Teach-In draws upon the interdisciplinary knowledge of the K-State community to explore themes of Dr. King’s work.
4) This year, the 12th Annual Civil Rights Teach-In will take place on Wednesday January 28, 2:30-5:00pm, in Leadership Studies Town Hall. Through presentations and conversation, it will “explore how knowledge — whether carried through language, preserved in libraries or generated through scientific inquiry — can shape history, advance justice and save lives.” All are welcome!
— Karin Westman, Department Head
K-State English 