Educator Michael Blakey to speak at anniversary of 50 years of Clemson integration event

Published: October 9, 2012

By Beth Anne Lamar 

CLEMSON — Guest speaker Michael Blakey of the College of William and Mary joins Clemson University in celebrating 50 years of integration with a lecture at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Strom Thurmond Institute.

Blakey is a National Endowment for the Humanities professor and director of the Institute for Historical Biology at the College of William and Mary. From 1987 to 1989, he served as president of the Association of Black Anthropologists.

His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Howard University and master's and Ph.D. from the University Massachusetts, Amherst.

In his speech, “The Idea of Race,” Blakey discusses the fallacies behind the term race and how the term has altered people’s point of views.

“Blakey is an outstanding educator and scholar who will present an intelligent, insightful and provocative lecture regarding the idea of race and the influence of the concept of race in American culture,” said Clemson Chief Diversity Officer Leon Wiles.

Clemson’s yearlong celebration of the 50^th anniversary of integration includes a number of events, speakers and exhibits. For further information, visit http://www.clemson.edu/administration/diversityoffice/50-years/.

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