Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika at UMD

Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, an assistant professor at Clemson University who attracted international audiences with his live-stream coverage of protests surrounding police shootings, is planning two talks at UMD on Monday, October 24.

12 p.m. on October 24 in Kirby Ballroom– “Entertainment, Culture, and Activism”

7 p.m. on October 24 in Griggs Center– “Media Ecology of Protest Spaces”

Both events are free and open to the public. Kirby Ballroom and Griggs Center are in the Kirby Student Center, 1120 Kirby Drive.

Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika has addressed issues like Trump rallies, protests by African-American athletes, and white privilege in the media. He's a contributor to NPR Codeswitch, All Things Considered, and other mainstream and independent media outlets. Dr. Kumanyika is also a founding member of the hip-hop group Spooks whose first album produced singles that reached gold-selling status around the world.

 "Dr. Kumanyika's scholarship, political activism, and music make him quite extraordinary in a world of narrow rooms and closed borders,” says Dr. Rebecca de Souza, associate professor in the Communication Department. “As a discipline committed to conversation and discussion about matters of importance, we feel his voice is an important one to be heard at this politically poignant time. Dr. Kumanyika is also a wonderfully engaging speaker and will appeal to both students and community members alike."

The talks are sponsored by UMD’s College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Communication, Kirby Leadership Institute, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, American Indian Studies Department, and the Department of Political Science.