Who: The Africana Studies Program and The Unified Black Students Society

What: 14th Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Human and Civil Rights Symposium

When: 2:30 p.m.,Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017

Where: Performing Arts Center

Cost: Free

Event Description: The topic for this year’s symposium is “The New Civil Rights Movement in the Age of Social Media.”

Journalist and social justice advocate Shaun King will be the featured speaker. Currently a writer-in-residence at Harvard Law School’s Fair Justice Project, he formerly wrote on social justice issues for the New York Daily News. He uses Twitter and Facebook to tell stories about the violence across the country.

King is also a fundraiser for victims of injustice and founder of both TwitChange and HopeMob. He is the author of “The Power of 100.”

The symposium will also feature a panel discussion with Professor of Anthropology Nazia Kazi, Associate Professor of Political Science James Avery, Public Policy Consultant Richard Roper and moderator and Associate Professor of Social Work Allison Sinanan.

Hamer, a native of Mississippi who became a noted civil rights activist in the 1960s, spoke on behalf of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party at the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City. One of her most famous quotes is “All my life I’ve been sick and tired. Now I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

“Her historic visit to Atlantic City for the 1964 Democratic Convention has been etched in our memories,” said Donnetrice Allison, professor and coordinator of Africana studies program at Stockton. “The symposium continues her legacy by giving a voice to current civil rights issues.”

The symposium is sponsored by the Africana Studies Program and the United Black Students Society, or UBSS.

Mahalia Bazile, president of UBSS, said King represents young activism.

“He embodies what it means to be young and have a voice,” she said. “He is willing to speak up, hear both sides of an argument, and be part of the conversation.”

The annual symposium also receives support from the Office of the Provost, The Council of Black Faculty and Staff, Office of the President, Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity and Office of Student Development.

Tickets are not required. The event is free, but space is limited.

Learn more about Fannie Lou Hamer and the symposium at: https://stockton.edu/arts-humanities/fannie-lou-hamer.html