By André Green/se news editor
One of the nation’s respected voices on black culture in America will visit SE Campus next week.
Nationally renowned lecturer and consultant Clarence E. Glover Jr. will present From Slavery to Freedom—African Culture in America, Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 11:30 a.m. in the ESED North Ballroom.
Glover has been deeply involved in intercultural relations for more than three decades. During that time, he has created and implemented curriculum meant to foster better relations among different ethnic backgrounds.
As an adjunct professor of African Studies at Southern Methodist University (1987-1993), Glover developed the Black and White course. The course explored the history of black and white relations in America from Africa and Europe to present-day relations in America.
The course became the Inner-City Experience and is now considered, according to Glover’s biography, “a major university initiative addressing the academic needs of urban youth through tutoring.”
The program also offers SMU students the opportunity to study urban and intercultural issues.
As Glover was executing Black and White, he created Blue and Red Day, the largest campus simulated-segregation experiment in the country.
The experiment was praised and compared to Jan Elliot’s Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes experiment of 1968.
As a result, he received the Multicultural Program award of the year for 1991.
Glover has created seminars discussing and teaching the history and culture of black Americans.
Additionally, he is considered the foremost expert on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and is a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by King and the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy.
Regarding Glover’s knowledge of King’s legacy, Abernathy said, “Rev. Glover has studied extensively the life and works of my dearest friend. I would probably include him among the top 10 writers and speakers today who can pass on the dream which Dr. King so willingly lived and died for.”
In 1986, Glover participated in the PBS documentary In Remembrance of Martin, serving as both a consultant and interviewer. It also marked the first national holiday observance of King’s legacy.
Glover is currently the executive director of Multicultural Education for the Dallas public schools.
The event, sponsored by student activities, is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Doug Peak at 817-515-3595. More information on Glover can be found at www.clarenceglover.com.
