Public Appearances

Interviews, Invited Talks, Press Coverage

Links to a selection of recent interviews, invited talks, and press coverage.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES

• I am a regular contributor to National Public Radio's News and Notes with Farai Chideya.

• January 24, 2008. Association of American Colleges and Universities, Washington DC.

• February 8-10, 2008. Winter Institute of Meadville-Lombard Theological School
  

• February 20, 2008. Inauguration of Prof. Knitter as Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, Union Theological Seminary, New York City
  

• February 21, 2008. Black History Month Celebration. UNC - Asheville
  

• February 23, 2008. Black Law Student Association Spring Conference - Harvard University.
  

• February 29, 2008. IUPUI Taylor Symposium.
  

• March 3, 2008. Crossroad of Religion and Politics. Princeton University.
  

• March 8, 2008. Women’s Politics Roundtable. Bard College.
  

• March 14, 2008. Run Sister Run. Women and Elected Office. Rutgers University.
  

• March 22, 2008. National Conference of Black Political Scientists. Chicago, IL.
  

• March 31, 2008. Equity in the Classroom. Michigan.
  

• April 3, 2008. Fair Housing Luncheon. Dayton, Ohio.
  

• April 10, 2008. Katrina in the Classroom. Monmouth State College.
  

• April 18, 2008. African American Studies. Northwestern University.
  

• April 25, 2008. Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach, Florida.
  

• May 1, 2008. Fair Housing Alliance of Tacoma, Washington.

RECENT PRESS COVERAGE

• Bill Moyers Journal, August 17, 2007. Conversation with Bill Moyers and Mike Tidwell on Aftermath of Katrina.

• Bill Moyers Journal, May 18, 2007. Conversation with Bill Moyers on Race in America.

Hurricane Katrina        

• Princeton Course Takes Students to Post-Katrina New Orleans. NPR - Feb 1, 2007.

• Race, Ethnicity and Politics Workshop. Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Politics at the University of California, Los Angeles. 2-4pm Bunche Hall.
  November 16, 2006.

• Analyzing the 2006 Mid-term elections. Race. Kaleidoscope: An Alumni Conference on Race and Community at Princeton.
  4-5 pm Princeton University. November 10, 2006.

• Hurricane Katrina and American Politics Midwest Faculty Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, November 2, 2006.

• Racial Health Disparities in the Aftermath of Katrina.  Rush University Hospital Grand Rounds.  Chicago, Illinois, October 31, 2006.

• Princeton University, 1:30-2:30p.m., McCosh 50, Friday, September 29, 2006.
  Topic:  Hurricane Katrina and America's Racial Politics. Coming Back and Looking Forward:  A Princeton University Conference for Black Princeton Alumni. 

• Chicago Tribune, February 27, 2006.  A nation views Katrina through different lenses.

• All Headline News, January 18, 2006.
  Race Playing A Large Role In Katrina Rebuilding Effort

• Chicago Maroon, January 20, 2006. Professors discuss Katrina response.

• Katrina & Recovery: Study on Race and Rebuilding New Orleans, January 23, 2006.
  News and Notes with Ed Gordon.

• Mathew College and Princeton University, Thursday, December 8, 2005.   Dinner and Discussion. Topic:  Race, Class and Catastrophe: The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Politics of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster.

• Princeton University. Carl A. Fields Center, October 5, 2005.
  Dinner Discussion: The Ethics and Racial Politics of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster.

• Black America Web, Tuesday, September 27, 2005. Article by Monica Lewis.
  Surprising His Officers, New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass Resigns.

• National Public Radio, News and Notes with Ed Gordon, September 23, 2005.
  Topic:  Black Leadership Role After Katrina.

• Black America Web, Wednesday, September 21, 2005.
  Bush Nixes Call for Independent Katrina Inquiry, Names Aide to Lead Probe.

• Detroit News, September 20, 2005. 
  Topic: "Black Caucus event tackles race in U.S. Detroit News".

• Black America Web, September 11, 2005
  Topic: "Legacy of Mayor Ray Nagins."

• Topic: "What do we call those left homeless?"

• Chicago Tribune, September 2005.
  Topic:  On the Word "Refugeee".

• Australian Radio Interview. SBS World View, September 6, 2005
  Topic: "Multiple Failures Caused Relief Crisis"

• Associated Press. September 1, 2005
  Topic: "In Katrina's Wake, Prayers in the Gulf Coast"

2008 Presidential Election        

• Oprah and Obama, Washington Times.

• Will Obama's message excite black voters? Kansas City Star - Jan 25, 2007

• The racial politics of speaking well. International Herald Tribune - Feb 4, 2007

• Pundits Offer First Look at Obama Campaign. NPR - Feb 12, 2007

• PAULA ZAHN NOW: Former NBA Player Comes Out; Atheism in America; Race.
  Feb 13, 2007

• Breaking the rules: Debates inside black community go public. Feb 18, 2007

• A colorblind vote for president? Chicago Tribune, IL. May2007

• Obama Reaches Out With Tough Love. Washington Post, DC. May 2, 2007

• The Face of Presidential Politics, CUNY Graduate Center, New York. October 3, 2007

• NPR, Tell Me More: The Week in Politics for Bush, Presidential Hopefuls. Jul-27-2007

• NPR, News and Notes. Philadelphia Mayoral Primary, Giuliani on Abortion.
  May-16-2007

• NPR News and Notes. Republican Presidential Season Launches in Earnest with Debate May-04-2007

Electoral Politics        

• NPR, News and Notes. Analysis: Should Bush Compare Iraq to Vietnam? Aug-23-2007

• NPR, Tell Me More: Rove's Planned Exit Leads High-Energy Week in Politics.
  Aug-17-2007

• Two Political Experts React to Bush Speech. NPR - Jan 24, 2007

• Taking Time to Assess the 109th Congress. NPR - Dec 14, 2006

• What's Next as Democrats Take the House?. NPR - Nov 8, 2006

• Elections Boost Democratic Hopes for 2006, November 9, 2005.

• American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, September 1-4, 2005.
  Topic: Old Friends and New Alliances: As Study of Race and Religion in the 2004 Election and Shifting Alliances: Are black voters ready to rethink allegiance to the Democratic Party?

• Loyola University Black Law Student Association, March 12, 2005
  Topic: "Rethinking the 2004 Elections through the Lens of Race"

• Newsday, Summit Highlights GOP Courtship of Blacks, February 2, 2005

• Newsmakers TLN (Total Living Network), Live Inauguration Day Coverage,
  January 20, 2005

• The Morning Call (Mcall.com), Presidential Inauguration, January 20, 2005

• The University of Chicago, Closing Panel, University Counter-Inauguration,
  January 20, 2005

• Tavis Smiley NPR, December 15, 2004
  Topic: Ohio Vote Still Contested

• Maryville College, 2004
  Topic: Race and US Elections

Profiles        

• Telling it like it is:  Harris-Lacewell draws on intellectual prowess and common sense.  March 12, 2007.

• Race, Politics, and Katrina. Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell explores perceptions of race in America. May 9, 2007.

• Chicago Maroon, Uncommon Interview - Melissa Harris Lacewell,
  February 12, 2005

• Chicago Sun-Times, profile of Barbershops, Bibles, and BET
  February 5, 2004

• Chicago Tribune, April 20, 2004: Not Just Idle Chitchat

• Chicago Weekly News November 13, 2003: Faculty Profile

OpEd

• Shani Breaks the Rules. Chicago Tribune, February 22, 2006

• Business Community Must Remember: Race Still Matters
  Crain's Chicago Business, July 18, 2005

• Closing the Racial Gap
  Crain's Chicago Business, February 28, 2005

• It’s one tentative step toward fairer elections
  Newsday, January 7, 2005

• New Stories on Faith
  Chicago Tribune, October 15 , 2004

• Are Blacks Really Returning to the Party of Lincoln? 
  Chicago Tribune, September 2, 2004

Barbershop Research

• Clipping Away at Illness, Washington Post

• Woodson Library, Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, September 16, 2006.  
  Topic:  Discussion of Barbershops, Bibles and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought. 

• Los Angeles Black Book Expo, June 10-11, 2005. 
  Topic:  Barbershops, Bibles and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought Book Signing

• Virginia State University, April 21, 2005.
  Topic:  Barbershops, Bibles and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought

• The Know Bookstore, Durham, North Carolina, April 22, 2005.
  Discussion and Book Signing: Barbershops, Bibles and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought with Reverend Carl Kenney

• Chicago Tribune, Topic: Health Education in Barbershops, February 4, 2005

• Eight Forty Eight, March 24, 2004  Topic: Barbershop

• Chicago Maroon, Black culture examined around the barber pole,  February 24, 2004

• Chicago Chronicle, profile of Barbershops, Bibles, and BET
  February 19, 2004

• National Public Radio, The Connection, Back to the Barbershop,  February 18, 2004

• Chicago Sun-Times, profile of Barbershops, Bibles, and BET
  February 5, 2004

• Chicago Alumni Magazine, profile of Barbershops, Bibles, and BET
  April 2004

• All Things Considered, September 2002
  Topic: Barbershop Controversy

Black Women and Mental Health

• Black Women in Society, UNC-Chapel Hill

• Friday, October 12, 2007. Depression and the NeoLiberal Subject. Panel at the American Studies Association.  Philadelphia, PA.

• Black Women’s Politics. Alumni Day. Princeton University. Saturday, February 24, 2007.

• “The State of Black Men in America: Six Faces of Being a Black Man.” Princeton University. Saturday, March 3, 2007.

• “Myths and Expectations: The Lives and Politics of Women
  of Color” American Council on Education Office of Women in Higher Education.
  Princeton University. Friday, March 9, 2007.

• Suffering for the Lord: Black Women’s Religious and Political Beliefs. Race, Religion and Politics Conference. University of Texas, Austin. March 30-31, 2007.

• The Politics of Black Women's Mental Health, October 24, 2005.
  Topic:  The Division of United States Studies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Additional event details.

• Women's Board of the University, April 12, 2005
  Topic: "Politics of Black Women's Mental Health"

• University of Texas, Austin, March 2, 2005
  Topic: "The Politics of Black Women's Depression" at the Conference on African American Political Psychology (participants)

• University of Texas, Austin, March 3-6, 2005
  Topic:  "The Politics of Black Women's Depression" at the Conference on African-American Political Psychology".

• University of Chicago Hospital, OB-GYN Grand Rapids, February 18, 2005
  Topic: "Possible Clinical Applications of Research on Black Women's Strength
  and Shame"

• University of Notre Dame, 2002
  Topic: Myth of the Strong Black Woman

• Odyssey, Chicago Public Radio March 9, 2004
  Topic: Depression and Culture

Obama-Keyes Senate Race

• WGN-TV, May 27, 2005.
  Topic: Obama: Out of Africa

• Running of Race, Fall 2004
  Topic: Obama Campaign

• Harvard Magazine, August 2004
  Topic: Obama Campaign

• Chicago Reporter,  2004
  Topic: Obama-Ryan Race

• Black Enterprise Magazine, February 2004
  Topic: Obama Race

Religion and Politics

• FOX News - Jan 15, 2007.  New Generation of Preachers Stepping In.

• Sunday, March 4, 2007. Building Beloved Community. All Souls Church.
  Washington, DC.

• Star-Telegram, June 26, 2006.  Black leaders plan to protest against Christian conservatives.

• American Political Development Workshop at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,  February 17, 2006. Topic:  Black Religious Thought and American Politics.

• First Unitarian Church of Chicago. February 12, 2006.
  Topic:  The Ethics of Getting Away With It.  Why Good Things Happen to Bad People.

• Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, February 10, 2006. 
  Topic: Chicago Politics.

• People's Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 6, 2006. 
  Topic:  The Politics of Morality. 

• National Conference of Editorial Writers, September 17, 2005. 
  Topic:  Race, Religion and American Politics.

• Liberation to Mutual Fund:  The Political Consequences of Differing Conceptions of Christ in the African-American Church, October 14, 2005.
  Center for the Study of the United States' F. Ross Johnson/Connaught Distinguished Speakers' Series.

• Topic:  The Third Way:  Prophetic and Progressive Politics. Faith and Justice.

• Brent House Episcopal Center at the University of Chicago, April 27, 2005.
  Topic:  Tensions in Black Political Practice

• Chicago Convenes at the University of Chicago, May 6, 2005.
  Topic:  Onward Christian Voters:  Race, Religion and the 2004 Elections

• The Religion and Culture Web Forum, April 2005
  Topic:  "Seeking a Prophet:  How Religion Mediates the Relationship between Black America and the U.S. Presidents."

• Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California, April 7, 2005
  Topic:  "African Americans and the American Presidency" at the Conference on Religion and American Presidency

• Meadville Lombard Theological School, March 29–June 7, 2005
  Topic: "Black Religion and Black Politics"

• Martin Marty Center, Sightings, February 24, 2005
  Topic:  "The Political Future of Black Churches"

• Book Signing and Discussion with Jim Wallis of God's Politics,
  February 9, 2005

• Meadville Lombard Theological School, Topic: Catalysts for Change:
  Confronting the Race in our Faith, January 4-7, 2005

• Martin Marty Center, Sightings, October 14, 2004
  Topic: Black Churches: Liberation or Prosperity, October 14, 2004

• Shabbat Service of Congregation Beth Or, Friday December 17th
  Topic: Progressive Religious Values in the Political Arena"

• Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism, 2004
  Topic: Black Religious Identity and Politics

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Addresses

• Resisting the Seduction of Power Through the Humility of Service. January 14, 2007. Click this link to read the sermon text.

• Topic:  Reflections on the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Francis W. Parker School, Chicago, Illinois, Wednesday, January 11, 2006.
  Topic:  Reflections on the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• DenverPost.com, "Black Churches Let Him Become 'a Caricature'",
  January 16, 2005

• First Unitarian Church of Chicago, January 2005
  Topic: Martin Luther King Day Service, "We Knew Him By His Fruits".

• University of Chicago, January 2004

• Martin Luther King Speech, 2004

Other Talks and Topics

• Friday, October 12, 2007. Depression and the NeoLiberal Subject. Panel at the American Studies Association.  Philadelphia, PA.

• Thursday, October 18, 2007. Fair Housing Center of Washington's Social Justice Forum, Tacoma, Washington

• August 30-September 2, 2007. American Political Science Association Conference, Chicago Illinois

• Sunday September 16, 2007 5PM EST. Sam Brown Radio Show out of Los Angeles

• Thursday, October 18, 2007. Fair Housing Center of Washington's Social Justice Forum, Tacoma, Washington

• Tuesday, October 9, 2007. Keynote Address for Unity Days at Rider University, Lawrenceville NJ

• August 30-September 2, 2007. American Political Science Association Conference, Chicago Illinois

• Sunday, September 16, 2007 5PM EST. Sam Brown Radio Show out of Los Angeles

• Farrakhan Takes Podium Once More. Feb 21, 2007

• Not In Our Town. Race: the Power of an Illusion. Princeton Public Library 7:00 PM. Monday, April 16, 2007.

• Harold Washington Cultural Center, Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, July 25, 2006.  
  Topic:  "The Movement is Now".  Keynote Address at The Chicago Freedom Movement 40th Anniversary Conference. 

• Associated Press, July 1, 2006.
  Topic: Black men quietly combating stereotypes.

• Chicago Tribune, April 16, 2006.
  Topic: Easter tradition makes little girls queens for a day.

• BlackAmericaWeb.com, Wednesday, June 28, 2006.
  Topic: Michael Steele’s Support from "Race-Baiting" Political Figures Raises Eyebrows.

• Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, Thursday, January 19, 2006.
  Topic:  What matters to me and why.

• Black America Web, November 29, 2005.
  Topic:  The Legacy of Montgomery, the Power of the Black Dollar.

• Black America Web, October 25, 2005. Legacy of Rosa Parks.

• Chicago Sun-Times, November 13, 2005.
  Topic: African Americans and the U.S. Wealth Gap.

• Chicago Public Radio, June 20, 2005
  Topic: Racial Segregation

• National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Washington, D.C., March 24, 2005
  Topic: "Opening Plenary"

• Michele Clark Academic Preparatory High School, February 4, 2005
  Topic: "How Young People are Making Black History Today"

• Amandla Student Resource Center, Mezzanine Level, East Tower of Harper,
  February 17, 2005

• Stanford Black Law Student Association Conference, February 19, 2005
  Topic: Amandla Lecture Series, University of Chicago

• University of Illinois-Chicago campus, Chicago Circle Center, February 26, 2005
  Chicago Ethnography Conference

• NPR, Events that Mattered the Most to African-Americans in 2004,
  December 30, 2004 even

• New York Daily News, 2004
  Topic: Politics and Fashion

• Policy Briefing on Community Impact of The Garden of Glass Exhibit on Garfield Park, Chicago

• Odyssey, Chicago Public Radio January 20, 2003
  Topic: Diversity in the Highest Level of Politics

• Chicago Tribune, September 2002
  Topic: Women in 2002 Elections

• Tavis Smiley, 2002
  Topic: Israeli Issues and Black Politics

• AAUW-Lomabard Branch, 2002
  Topic: Postdoctoral Research Grant

• Chicago Maroon, January 16, 2001
  Topic: Tenure at American Universities
   

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