Christina Oddo
Arts & Life Editor

Barbara Smith, author and activist, spoke to University students and staff, as well as residents of Lewisburg, Wednesday night. The talk took place in the LC Forum, and is considered the annual Black Experience Lecture.

Smith was the first woman of color to be appointed to the Modern Language Association’s Commission on the Status of Women in the Profession in 1974.

Smith continues to be very active in areas concerning violence prevention, promotion of educational experiences, and the betterment of youth.

Her talk, “Black Feminist Activism: My Next Chapter,” described her history of, and dedication to, pushing for racial, social, and economic justice. She also spoke of her experiences as an elected official of a mostly African American area in Albany.

This event was sponsored by the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Gender, and co-sponsored by the Griot Institute for Africana Studies, the Women’s and Gender Studies program, the Women’s Resource Center, and the Office of LGBT Awareness.