Apr 23
"Reconciliation and the Making of a Free Society." Annual Mandela-Grimké Lecture with Dr. Uchenna Okeja
The annual Mandela-Grimké Lecture will feature Dr. Uchenna Okeja who will present his work titled "Reconciliation and the Making of a Free Society".
Dr. Uchenna Okeja is a research professor in philosophy and African futures at Nelson Mandela University, where he leads the Center for Philosophy in Africa. He also serves as director of the Emengini Institute for Comparative Global Studies in Worcester, MA and has held a number of visiting professorships and fellowships at leading research universities. He is the author or editor of eight books, five special issues of academic journals, and numerous book chapters and journal articles. His research interests are in the areas of political philosophy, African philosophy, critical theory, and ethics – including business ethics. His work primarily explores the intersection of philosophical thought with wider issues of injustice, migration, war, justice, and agency in non-ideal political contexts. His book Deliberative Agency: A Study in Modern African Political Philosophy (Indiana University Press, 2022) was a finalist for the 2023 ASA Best Book Award and was named a 2023 Choice Outstanding Academic Title by the American Library Association.
It's an honor to welcome Dr. Okeja to Carleton and we hope to see you there.
Light refreshments available at 5pm, Q&A to follow lecture.
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This lecture series honors two figures who inspire Carleton's Africana Studies program: Angelina Weld Grimké and Nelson Mandela. It is made possible by the generous support of the Mary and Fred Easter Endowment for Africana Studies.
Angelina Weld Grimké (February 27, 1880 – June 10, 1958) was the first African American female student to attend the Carleton Academy, a preparatory school that was a part of the college campus from 1866 to 1906. She went on to be an American journalist, teacher, playwright and poet who came to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance; she was one of the first African-American women to have a play publicly performed.
Nelson Mandela (July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013) was a revolutionary activist for African rights and the first democratically-elected president of South Africa. Imprisoned for 27 years for his work in organizing opposition to white-minority rule, he went on to lead the country towards multiracial democracy and reconciliation. He remains a global symbol of moral courage in the face of systemic injustice.
from Africana Studies