Professor Eddie Glaude Jr., chairman of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, was the keynote speaker for The Legacy 1619-2019 event series on Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Guthart Cultural Center Theater.
With frequent references to the work of James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr. and Toni Morrison, Glaude’s speech focused on the mindset of the American people regarding democracy, culture, immigration and race.
Glaude opened his speech by introducing his book, “Exodus!: Religion, Race, and Nation in Early Nineteenth-Century Black America,” as an analysis of tolerance through black culture. Glaude used the Biblical story of Exodus to explain racial conflict in the 1920s.
The book, though almost two decades old, still has a prominent stance in today’s ideology. “At the core of this ugly period in our history is the idea that we are as a country is changing for the worst,” Glaude said. “We are becoming unrecognizable to ourselves. The slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ and ‘Keep America Great’ are nostalgic longings … to step back in the past that can never be retrieved.”
The influx of social media has created “cancel culture” and has become a brewing ground for activism. Glaude encourages young adults to get involved with “healthy conversations” online to incorporate diversity; however, news outlets play a major role in stirring the conversation. “These complex issues are not as easy as they are presented as,” said Daria Valan, a junior philosophy major.
When asked how young people should promote activism within their college campuses and communities, Glaude said, “Sometimes to be heard, you have to sing off key.”
The history of U.S. presidents became the next topic of discussion after talking about the media’s influence on the last presidential election.
Presenting a new perspective, Glaude talked about how President Trump brings the stigma surrounding immigrants and minorities to light.
The president’s consistent clash with the American people has not been the worst of our time. “The original sin is not the genocide with regards to Native Americans. The original sin is not the enslavement of African people,” Glaude said. “The original sin is idolatry of whiteness that has wrapped its fingers around the throat of American democracy.”
Reaction from students furthered the conversation to define white supremacy and gave many others insight into American history. “I’m an immigrant and [learning] that [these issues didn’t] start from Trump, but had a past presidential influence, [which is] is interesting,” said Odris Infante, a freshman health science major.
Learning how moments in history are “reenacted” and not necessarily “repeats” gave many Hofstra professors an opportunity to talk about their findings in the research they have conducted.
“I love the way he talked about the importance of understanding the history of oppression [and] the prevalence of white supremacy and how that needs to be dismantled,” said Lisa Merrill, professor of women’s studies and rhetoric.
Glaude’s keynote ended with a conversation about how to be prepared for the upcoming election.
He points out that the ongoing issues have been going on for centuries, but instead of looking at what isn’t to be done we should focus our attention on how to “build a better America.”
“We’re all caught up in the moment, focusing on our happiness and our success. I was here for the past hour – someone somewhere else can be getting deported right now,” said Yohelis Palanco, a freshman finance major.
Rewriting the American narrative is the first step to a successful future. “Whatever happens next will be up to us,” Glaude said.