Correspondent, author offers lecture at Cal U
California University of Pennsylvania welcomes national political correspondent and author Juan Williams to the Performance Center of the Natali Student Center Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. This lecture – which is free and open to the public – is sponsored by the university’s Noss Lecture Series and presented as the annual Frederick Douglass Institute’s Black History Month speaking engagement. A question and answer session and a book signing will follow the presentation.
Williams is one of America’s leading political writers and thinkers. He is the senior correspondent for NPR and the political analyst for Fox Television. A former prize-winning columnist and editorial writer for The Washington Post, he has also authored three books. His most recent, “My Soul Looks Back in Wonder,” presents stirring, thought-provoking, eyewitness accounts from people who played active roles in the civil rights movement during the past 50 years.
Previous books include the nonfiction bestseller, “Eyes On The Prize,” and the critically acclaimed biography, “Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary.” Time magazine described “American Revolutionary” as “a magisterial work of American history.” This book was reissued in 2004 with a new epilogue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s historic Brown vs. The Board of Education decision.
Williams’ understanding of American history and his inside access to Washington politics give him a unique and informed voice as an analyst of current events.
In 2000, NPR selected him to host its afternoon talk show, “Talk of The Nation,” and in two years, Williams brought the show’s ratings to record heights. His daring perspectives are based on his historical understanding, political expertise and knowledge of diversity.
Prior to writing bestsellers, Williams was a political analyst and national correspondent for The Washington Post. In a 21-year career at The Post, he served as an editorial writer, op-ed columnist and White House reporter. He won several journalism awards for his writing and investigative reporting. He also won an Emmy Award for TV documentary writing. He was given widespread, critical acclaim for a series of documentaries including “Politics-The New Black Power.” His documentary on A. Phillip Randolph was featured on PBS.
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision and coincided with the nation taking a renewed interest in issues of racial equality and the unique role of the growing Hispanic population. Because of Williams’ expertise, the President’s Commission chose him as the keynote speaker at the Smithsonian Museum to commemorate the Brown anniversary. Williams was also selected as the first speaker in 2003 for C-SPAN’s nationally televised series, “Students and Leaders.”
As senior correspondent for NPR’s “Morning Edition” and host of “America’s Black Forum,” a nationally syndicated, weekly news program, Williams is at the cutting edge of America’s culture and politics.
Cal U’s Noss Lecture Series, which is sponsoring Williams’ visit, is named in memory of Dr. Theodore Bland Noss, principal of Southwestern State Normal School in the late 1800s. In 1883, Noss instituted a series of lectures meant to bring to campus interesting, thought-provoking and entertaining speakers. Noss passed away in 1909, and the Noss Lecture Series was re-instituted in 1983.
Several of the many guest speakers during the last 20 years include FBI manhunter John Douglas, journalists Steve Bell and Thomas Friedman, Holocaust survivor Zev Kedem, politicians Ralph Nader and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kurt Vonnegut, Lech Walesa, Coretta Scott King and Kweisi Mfume.