Issues Of Race, Culture And History Explored At Spadys Community Lecture Series In February February 6, 2008

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum will kick-off its annual Connecting Community and Culture Lecture Series this year during black history month. This free series is designed to bring about stimulating conversation on topics and issues pertaining to people of African decent. Lectures are at 5:30 7 p.m. at the museum, 170 NW 5th Avenue, from February 6 through March 15.
The first four speakers in the series include three Florida Atlantic University (FAU) professors Dr. Clevis Headley, Dr. Sika Dagbovie and Dr. Derrick White and Al Ashley, private collector of the Ashley Collection of African Americans on U.S. Stamps and Coins exhibit, which has been extended at the museum through February 29.
Headley, a social professor of philosophy at FAU speaking on Feb. 6, will discuss the History of Black Reparations in the United States. Headley is also the director of ethnic studies and director of the Masters in liberal studies program. He researches issues on Africana philosophies, as well as language, social and political philosophy.
Dagbovie, professor in the FAU English Department speaking on Feb. 13, will talk about Black/White Mixed Race Identity in American Racial Discourse of the Past and Present. She plans to propose and discuss how black/white mixed race identity is thought of in contemporary popular culture. Dagbovies research and articles on the subject have appeared in journals such as African American Review, The Journal of Popular Culture, and CLA Journal.
Ashley, returning to the Spady Museum for a second time on Feb. 15, will host a mid-day and evening lecture on his extensive stamp and coin collection currently on display. Pieces in his collection feature and pay tribute to many African-Americans who have made major achievements throughout United States history. Ashley has personally met 25 of the 81 African Americans honored through commemorative stamps and coins.
White, of FAUs History Department, will speak on Feb. 20. The title of his topic is Where do we go from Here? The Black Community in the 21st Century. Providing an overview from history to the present, pre-civil rights movement to Barack Obamas run for president, he will argue that analysis of the political economy is the primary need in advancing the black community. White was the 2003-2004 recipient of the University of California- Santa Barbara Department of Black Studies dissertation fellowship and currently has a manuscript on The Institute of the Black World, a Black think tank in Atlanta, under review by the University of Georgia Press.
Additional speakers will be featured in the series on February 27 and March 5 and 12 with more details to be announced.
The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, a non-profit organization located in Palm Beach County, is dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing the African-American history and heritage of Florida. Located in the former home of the late Solomon D. Spady, the most prominent African American educator and community leader in Delray Beach from 1922 to 1957, the museum opened in July 2001. It is the only museum of its kind in Palm Beach County.
Upcoming Spady Events: Dancing With the Stars Spady Style Gala: The Spady Museums annual gala will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 at the Delray Beach Marriott. Tickets for the event, featuring dining, dancing, professional dancers, a silent auction, and community awards, are $125. For more information, call 561-279-8883 or visit www.spadymuseum.com.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of msteele.