Lecture Details
Martin Luther King, Jr. died in one of the most shocking assassinations the world has known, but little is remembered about the life he led in his final year. New York Times bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster Tavis Smiley recounts the final 365 days of King's life, revealing the minister's trials and tribulations -- denunciations by the press, rejection from the president, dismissal by the country's black middle class and militants, assaults on his character, ideology, and political tactics, to name a few -- all of which he had to rise above in order to lead and address the racism, poverty, and militarism that threatened to destroy our democracy.
Smiley's DEATH OF A KING paints a portrait of a leader and visionary in a narrative different from all that have come before. Here is an exceptional glimpse into King's life -- one that adds both nuance and gravitas to his legacy as an American hero.
Tavis Smiley Biography
From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Tavis Smiley — broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist — has emerged as an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS, as well as The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI), and the daily online radio program, Tavis Talks, on the Tavis Smiley Network (TSN) on BlogTalk Radio. Smiley has written 16 books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times best seller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times best-sellers list. In his latest New York Times best seller, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, Smiley and his co-author Dr. Cornel West challenge all Americans to re-examine their assumptions about poverty in America — what it really is and how to eradicate it. His forthcoming text to be published in September 2014 is Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Year, eye-opening account of widespread assaults on MLK’s character, ideology, and political tactics and how they shaped both the year leading up to his death in 1968 and his lasting legacy. He is also the presenter and creative force behind AMERICA I AM: The African American Imprint — an unprecedented traveling museum exhibition celebrating the extraordinary impact of African American contributions to our nation and to the world.The nonprofit Tavis Smiley Foundation recently announced a $3 million four-year campaign called ENDING POVERTY: America’s Silent Spaces to alleviate endemic poverty in America. TIME magazine has honored Smiley as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People.” The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce recently announced that Smiley will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, April 24, 2014.
The African American History Month Lecture Series is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, and the Division for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement.
Co-sponsors for the 2013-14 and/or the 2015 lecture series include: the Texas Tech University Museum, the Department of History, the Women’s Studies Program, the Black Faculty and Staff Association, the Black Student Association, the Black Graduate Student Association, and the Black Law Student Association.
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Dr. Karlos K. Hill by email at karlos.hill@ttu.edu.
