Michael Eric Dyson visited UNC Pembroke as the third guest speaker of the Distinguished Speaker Series, presented by the Office of Campus Engagement and Leadership (CEL) and Givens Performing Arts Center (GPAC), on Jan. 24.
Dyson is a sociology professor at Georgetown University and a Baptist minister. He is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and a contributing editor of The New Republic and ESPN’s The Undefeated website. He frequently appears on CNN as an analyst.
Dyson is a best-selling author. He has published more than 20 books related to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Marvin Gaye, Bill Cosby, and Tupac Shakur.
At 7:30 p.m., students, faculty and staff and members of the community gathered in GPAC for the event. CEL director Abdul Ghaffar conducted the interview with Dyson on stage.
Dyson spoke about his views on Tupac’s music, as well as the hip-hop culture of today’s society. He also discussed the significance of Martin Luther King’s speech and its relevance to the black and white population in America.
“Dr. Dyson is uniquely situated to discuss these topics given his credentials and ethnicity,” said junior Jalen Cole. “One thing he excels at is relating topics of import to popular culture, allowing audiences – young and old – to gain an appreciation for his messages.”
Throughout the day, Dyson interacted with the staff and faculty at UNCP. He expressed his gratitude by acknowledging them during his interview, particularly Dr. David Walton.
After the initial conversation, the audience was given the opportunity to ask questions through Twitter using #uncpspeakers.
To end the night, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. awarded Dyson with the Community Excellence Award for his continuous support.
Despite the controversy stirring on Facebook regarding Dyson’s visit, UNCP still allowed him to share his experiences and views with the community and student body.