Eastern Illinois University
The Keep
2001
Press Releases
3-30-2001
03/30/2001 - Author Of Black White And
Jewish.pdf
University Marketing and Communications
Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/press_releases_2001
Recommended Citation
University Marketing and Communications, "03/30/2001 - Author Of Black White And Jewish.pdf " (2001). 2001. Paper 225.
http://thekeep.eiu.edu/press_releases_2001/225
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NEWS
EASTERN
ILLI
NOTS
U N IVERS IT y----------------------0-ffi_l_ce-of_M_e_d-ia_R_e-la-tio_n_s_ __
Contact: Shelly Flock ([email protected])
Vicki Woodard ([email protected])
217-581-7650
217-581-8444 (fax)
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920-3099
(www.eiu.edu/-pubaff/omr.htm)
01-81
For Immediate Release:
AUTHOR OF "BLACK. WHITE AND JEWISH" TO LECTURE AT EIU
CHARLESTON - Rebecca Walker, author of "Black, White and Jewish: Autobiography
of a Shifting Self," will speak Monday, April2, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.
The young woman, recently named by "Time" magazine as one of the future leaders of
America, will begin her presentation at 6:30 p.m. in Roberson Auditorium, 122 Lumpkin Hall.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Walker, bam in 1969 in Jackson, Miss., grew up in San Francisco and New York City
before graduating cum laude from Yale University in May 1992. Following graduation, she
founded the Third Wave Direct Action Corp, a national non-profit organization devoted to
cultivating young women's leadership and activism. In its first summer, Third Wave initiated an
historic emergency youth drive which registered more than 20,000 new voters in inner cities
across the United States.
Walker is also a writer and has been a contributing editor to "Ms." magazine since 1989.
Her writing, which engages such issues as reproductive freedom, domestic violence and
sexuality, has been published in "Essence," the "New York Daily News," "SPIN," "Harper's,"
"VIBE," "Sassy," the "Black Scholar" and various women's and black studies anthologies. More
recently, she edited an anthology- "To Be Real: Telling the Truth and Changing the Face of
Feminism" - which explores young women's struggles to reclaim and redefine feminism.
-more-
E
astern Illinois University emphasizes distinguished teaching in the liberal arts, sciences and selected professions. A traditional,
residential state university of recognized quality, Eastern enrolls more than 10,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs.
The university, located in Charleston, also serves the region through a variety of non-credit and off-site degree programs, as well as cultural
and recreational opportunities. Eastern's pursuit of excellence attracts well-qualified students of an increasingly diverse population and a
teaching faculty active in research and public service who utilize the latest technology.
www.eiu.edu
REBECCA WALKER
ADD 1/1/1/1
In January 1996, Walker added "socially mindful entrepreneur" to her list of activist
activities when she and partner Angel Williams opened Kokobar, a cyberlounge/espresso
bar/bookstore in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn, designed to provide Internet access and education to
urban multi-cultural communities.
Equally concerned with communicating with people who do not read, Walker hosted a
television forum on inner city teen violence, pregnancy and drug abuse. She also has produced
segments for young adult programming which focus on youth activism among homeless teens,
and the youth response to nuclear weaponry for KRON, San Francisco.
She also made her motion picture debut acting in Mike Nichol's "Primary Colors."
Walker's appearance on EIU's campus is being co-sponsored by Eastern's Office of
Civil Rights and Diversity and the Student Government Diversity Affairs Committee.
-30Media Contact: Offlce of Civil Rights and Diversity, (217) 581-5020