A renowned Black academic and author who’s written more than 20 books on topics ranging from the racial and socioeconomic fault lines following Hurricane Katrina and the legacy of civil rights Malcolm X will speak in Paducah on Sunday.
The Paducah-McCracken County NAACP is hosting Michael Dyson at Paducah Tilghman High School Auditorium at 4 p.m. CST on Sunday. Dyson is currently a Distinguished Professor in the College of Arts and the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University, and has previously taught at Georgetown College, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, the Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, among others.
Dyson has authored two dozen books on race, politics, and contemporary music and culture, along with appearing as a media commentator on various public radio shows and national television shows including Meet the Press, Face the Nation, Good Morning America and more.
Paducah-McCracken County NAACP President J.W. Cleary said on topics such as systemic racism, Dyson will “add a little truth to the situation.”
“Sometimes we don’t want to hear the truth of what’s going on,” Cleary said. “He just seems like he just tells it the way it really did happen.”
Cleary said at least 400 people have already bought tickets to hear Dyson, with tickets still available. A promotional poster states COVID-19 protocols will be followed, including indoor mask wearing.
Paducah-McCracken County NAACP 2nd Vice President Corbin Snardon said he hopes younger people in the community will attend because he believes younger generations can get the most out of hearing Dyson’s words given the ongoing movement for racial justice and equity.
“I feel like they’re going to be the ones who benefit the most from it as they have been the most instrumental as far as the movement for justice,” Snardon said. “I would definitely encourage all young people if you can make it, please be there.”
