Featuring Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. is set to host Loyola Marymount University’s Global Conversations this 2023-2024 academic year. Global Conversation is set to premiere on Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. It will be hosted by the Office of the Provost and Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts and be hosted at Burns Back Court. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Scholars, activists, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and creatives will all be a part of this inspirational and engaging event. Television personality, author, podcaster, and restaurateur, David Chang will be in attendance and serve as a host for the conversations.
In addition to Henry Louis Gates Jr., LeVar Burton, and Julia Lee will also be at the event. Professor Gates is also the host of a groundbreaking series "Finding Your Roots." Gates and Chang are set to screen Chang's episode of the show.
Different topics will be a part of the conversation, such as immigration, identity, and heritage. Julia Lee will be on stage with Gates Jr. on November 1st followed by LeVar Burton next January. Lee is a Korean writer, scholar, teacher, and author of "Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America".
Gates and Lee will discuss the history and maturation of the Black Studies Program. Since opening his first restaurant, Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004, Chang has been named one of “the most influential people of the 21st century” by Esquire magazine, received six James Beard Awards, and earned recognition as GQ’s Man of the Year and a Time 100 honoree.
All events are open to the general public and will take place on the LMU Westchester Campus. LMU students, faculty, and staff can attend the events at no cost with a valid ticket; all other attendees can purchase a ticket for each event for $10. Revenue from ticket sales will benefit the LMU student scholarship fund. More information is available here. Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
