Lawrence Ross, an acclaimed author, lecturer, writer and creator, will present the discussion, “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses,” on Thursday, Feb. 1, at Quinnipiac University.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Center for Communications, Computing and Engineering, Room 101, on the Mount Carmel Campus.
Described as a bold mix of history and the current climate, “Blackballed” is a call to action for universities to make radical changes to their policies and standards to foster a better legacy for all students. The discussion is part of Quinnipiac’s Critical Conversation Speaker Series.
Ross has written six books, including the bestseller, “The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities. “Blackballed” is an explosive and controversial book that rips the veil off America’s hidden secret: America’s colleges have fostered a racist environment that makes them a hostile space for African American students.
“Blackballed” exposes the white fraternity and sorority system, with traditions of racist parties, songs and assaults on black students; and the universities themselves, who name campus buildings after racist men and women. It also takes a deep dive into anti-affirmative action policies, and how they effectively segregate predominately white universities, providing ample room for white privilege. A bold mix of history and the current climate, “Blackballed” is a call to action for universities to make radical changes to their policies and standards to foster a better legacy for all students.
Educated at the University of California at Berkeley and UCLA, Ross earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from UCLA and a Master of Fine Arts from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
Ross has lectured at more than 500 colleges and universities and is universally recognized as an expert in the field of African American fraternities and sororities.
The objective of QU’s Critical Conversation Speaker Series is to foster an inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment at Quinnipiac, promoting inclusivity of thought, respectful dialogue, empathetic engagement, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, and staff. The events are designed to empower participants to be better prepared to embrace inclusivity of thought by actively listening to and engaging with concepts and ideas that may challenge their personal values, without dismissing or silencing differing viewpoints.