Acclaimed author Jackson to speak at Knox College MLK Day Convocation
Galesburg, IL (01/09/2023) — Knox College is set to host Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of English and History Lawrence Jackson as the keynote speaker for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day convocation event Monday, January 16. The event will take place in Harbach Theatre, located inside the Ford Center for Fine Arts, starting at 11:00 a.m.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Jackson earned his doctorate in English and American literature at Stanford University in 1997. He taught at Howard University after completing his doctorate, and later joined the faculty of Emory University in 2002. In his current role at Johns Hopkins University, he specializes in African American literature and history.
Most recently, Jackson authored a 2022 memoir, Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore, a collection of essays about his life and the complex past and present state of Baltimore. He is currently working on a biography of Billie Holiday's origins in Baltimore.
He is also the author of the award-winning books Hold It Real Still: Clint Eastwood, Race, and the Cinema of the American West; Chester B. Himes: A Biography; The Indignant Generation: A Narrative History of African American Writers and Critics; My Father's Name: A Black Virginia Family after the Civil War; and Ralph Ellison: Emergence of Genius, 1913-1952. Harper's Magazine, Paris Review, and Best American Essays have published his criticism and non-fiction.
In addition to his writing and research, Jackson founded the Billie Holiday Center for the Liberation Arts, an initiative that showcases the arts, history, and culture of Baltimore. Founded in 2017, the research center is an initiative designed to foster an organic connection between Johns Hopkins University and the historic African American communities of Baltimore
Knox College will provide complimentary copies of Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore to those in attendance at the event. Jackson will be available to sign books and answer questions in the lobby of the Ford Center for Fine Arts following his talk.
This event is open to the public and will be streamed online at https://knox-edu.zoom.us/j/84162032334?pwd=YlVHVXZ2YmQxL0xzODNjNkJZUXQyQT09
Media Attachments
Knox College
news@knox.edu, 309-341-7337Share this Story
Recent News
- Knox College Announces New Director of Athletics
- Nonprofit Leader Brooke M. Wiseman to Speak at Knox College Class of 2023 Commencement
- Knox College announces new Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission
- Grammy award-winning guitarist Bill Frisell to headline 2023 Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival
- Assistant Professor Roya Biggie Awarded 2023 ACLS Fellowship
- Knox Presents Awards to Four Notable Graduates
- Former U.S. Diplomat to hold book talk in Galesburg Feb. 14
- Khasma Piano Duo to Perform at Knox College with Video Artist Chris Craychee
- Knox College welcomes the community to International Fair 2023
- Knox Students Dive Deep into the History of Chinese Immigration to the United States