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Soledad O’Brien brings Black in America tour to UH

Former CNN anchor O’Brien to lead panel talk on policing and racial profiling

The national tour of the Black in America documentary series launched by journalist Soledad O’Brian is making a stop at the University of Houston.

O’Brien will moderate a panel discussion about community policing, racial profiling, and police violence in the United States at 7 p.m. on February 24 in Cullen Performance Hall.

“This is a forum for the conversation America is ready to have — why do so many black Americans fear the very people that are supposed to protect them?” says O’Brien.

The notable panelists are economist and former Bennett College president Julianne Malveaux, St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, and UH Law School Dean Leonard M. Baynes.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. It is presented by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion in the UH Division of Student Affairs, UH Student Centers, and the UH Division of University Marketing, Communication and Media Relations.

It follows the February 12 on-campus panel discussion, “Ferguson: The Aftermath” co-hosted by the African American Studies Program, the UH Black Student Union, and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Black in American tour makes eight stops on college campuses this month. Tour audiences will get a preview of Black & Blue, the most recent installment of the Black in America series, which is scheduled to air in November on CNN. The documentary begins with footage of the Eric Garner choking incident, and closely examines the complex relationship between young men and the police who serve in their communities.

“We decided to host Soledad O’ Brien and her tour at the University of Houston because she covers topics that are very timely and cover important social justice issues. We want to be a part of the national conversation that is occurring,” said Niya Blair, Director of the UH Center for Diversity and Inclusion. “We hope everyone will leave learning something about the challenges African Americas face and ways to improve race relations for a more inclusive community.”

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni can pick up tickets in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion from 8:30am-5:00pm while supplies last. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion is located in the Student Center South, Suite B12 (around the corner from Starbucks). For more information about the event, call 713-743-6047.