KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a reception and keynote address by Adia Harvey Wingfield, assistant professor of sociology at Georgia State University.

The event will be held Monday, Jan. 24, at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the lecture begins at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow Wingfield’s talk.

Wingfield is the author of “Yes We Can?: White Racial Framing and the 2008 Presidential Campaign.” The book offers one of the first sociological analyses of Barack Obama’s historic 2008 campaign for the presidency. The book counters assumptions about race, politics and society — particularly the idea that Obama’s election ushered in a post-racial era. The book also relies on sociological analysis to assess several aspects of the historic campaign.

The event with Wingfield marks the kickoff to the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Dream Into Action campaign. By taking action on his dream, King was able to change the future for many men and women. The Dream Into Action campaign calls on the next generation to do the same.

The next Dream Into Action event will be hosted by the Black Student Union and Student Union Activities. They are collaborating on a unique art gallery that will run from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4. The gallery will feature essays and art submitted by students.