Dialogue or Divide: Race and The 2008 Presidential Election
The 2008 Presidential election has captured the world’s attention. What is especially compelling this year is that, for the first time, an African American candidate has won the nomination of a major political party.
The selection of Barack Obama as the Democratic Party nominee was the culmination of an intense and lengthy political process that brought unprecedented focus on the age, gender, religion, culture, and race of the various candidates of both parties. It’s also spurred any number of news articles probing the question of race in America, and whether Obama’s candidacy will help foster meaningful dialogue on racial issues, or lead to further divisions.
These questions will be at the heart of a Community Forum at the Freedom Center on September 2. “Moving Beyond Race in the Presidential Election” will explore the news media’s influence on attitudes about race through the filter of the 2008 Presidential campaign. Hosted by Senior Curator Carl Westmoreland, the forum will feature three local media panelists:
Peter Bronson, editorial columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer;
Jeri Tolliver, radio host on 1230 The Buzz;
Michele Hopkins, reporter, WLWT Channel 5.
The forum will be held in the Harriet Tubman Theater from 6 – 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public. For more information about Community Forums please contact acorley@nurfc.org or 513.333.7518.
This forum dignifies by his presence one of the most vicous race-baiters in Cincinnati public life, Peter Bronson. This is a perfect example justifying the misgivngs that a number of people had about putting an Underground Railroad memorial in a town like Cincinnati that is established historical and modern Copperhead country.